Seaside police received a tip at 11 a.m. on Friday that a body was buried in a shallow grave in Laguna Grande Park.
Officers decided to investigate the tip and found a person buried in a shallow grave in a wooded area of the park.
It appeared the body had been there for a lengthy amount of time.
A coroner performed an autopsy Monday and determined the person was a Seaside resident, 55-year-old Michael Paul Verga.
"Further forensic medical examinations are pending in order to determine the cause of death," police Cmdr. Stradan said.
Detectives said they consider Verga's death suspicious and they launched an investigation.
Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Seaside police at 831-899-6748.