Mystery Headstone Creates Intrigue

It suddenly appeared a week ago, in front of the condominium complex at 13331 Moorpark St. in Sherman Oaks.

"It was a little spooky," said resident Karen Mangini, pointing to a headstone that was sitting on the ground in a grassy, open area in  front of the building, where she lives.

"I had taken my dog out about 1 a.m. and there it was, looked like something that belonged in a graveyard, certainly not in front of a residential place like this," Mangini said.

The headstone appeared to be made of gray marble. It seemed to be professionally engraved and was heavy but movable. Still, nobody has moved it since it was first seen around July 18.

The engraving on the headstone says:

"Loving Husband Father and Physician

Jeffrey Lang

1976-2012."

"I went on the Internet to see where that would lead, but Lang is a common name, so I wasn't sure whether anyone listed would know about this," said Mangini, who notified the condo complex board that a headstone was now sitting among the plants in front of the building.

"There's nobody with that name, Jeffrey Lang, who lives at the complex," said Melissa Algaze, a member of the board, who said she was surprised to see a tombstone out in front.

"The writing on the marble certainly adds to the intrigue," added Algaze.

"We can't really call it a grave marker since there is no grave under it, or at least the ground underneath does not look like it was dug up," said Algaze.

"At first I thought it was a movie prop, but it's too heavy to be a prop."

An Internet search for the name Jeffrey Lang turned up a number of people, but none who appeared to be a physician born in 1976.

The license-checking system at the Medical Board of California does not list the name.

"Maybe it's some kind of practical joke," said David Carmen, a landscaper who was directing a crew of gardeners cutting the grass around the headstone.

"But it says the person's death will be in 2012, next year. That's not really much of a joke," he added.

Anyone with knowledge of this mystery headstone is encouraged to contact Doug.Kriegel@patch.com.