World · North America · 13 hrs ago
Medical examiner determines causes of three Burning Man deaths
The Washoe County medical examiner determined how three men died at this year’s Burning Man Festival.
Tshombe Sampson, 62, of Santa Monica, collapsed on Sept.
3 and died at the festival’s Rampart Medical Center; his cause of death was cardiovascular disease.
Armando Ramirez, 51, of Truckee, developed chest pain and died in an ambulance on Sept.
4; his death involved methamphetamine and MDMA toxicity, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
Chronic methamphetamine use also contributed to Ramirez’s death.
Craig Mann, 60, of Yuma, Arizona, was found unresponsive in his recreational vehicle on Sept.
5; his death involved cocaine and meth toxicity as well as cardiovascular disease.
The findings identify the causes of all three deaths, including cardiovascular disease in each case.
The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined causes of death for three men who died at this year’s Burning Man Festival.
Tshombe Sampson, 62, died on Sept. 3 after a sudden collapse.
Armando Ramirez, 51, died on Sept. 4 after experiencing chest pain.
Craig Mann, 60, was found unresponsive in his recreational vehicle on Sept. 5.
The causes included cardiovascular disease and, in two cases, drug toxicity.
- Who
- The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office and the three men: Tshombe Sampson, Armando Ramirez and Craig Mann.
- What
- The office determined the causes of death for the three men.
- When
- The men died on Sept. 3, 4 and 5. The report was published Oct. 16, 2026.
- Where
- At or after the Burning Man Festival. Sampson was pronounced dead at Rampart Medical Center within the festival.
- Why
- The reported causes included cardiovascular disease and drug toxicity; chronic methamphetamine use was also a contributing factor in Ramirez’s death.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tshombe Sampson was pronounced dead at Rampart Medical Center within Burning Man after a sudden collapse.
Armando Ramirez was taken from Burning Man for medical care after chest pain and was pronounced dead in an ambulance.
Craig Mann was found unresponsive in his recreational vehicle and declared dead at the scene.
KOLO reported that the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office had determined causes of death for all three men.
- Tshombe Sampson
- 62; cause of death was hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
- Armando Ramirez
- 51; cause included methamphetamine and MDMA toxicity, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
- Ramirez contributing factor
- Chronic methamphetamine use.
- Craig Mann
- 60; cause included cocaine and meth toxicity and cardiovascular disease.
- Report
- Published by KOLO on Oct. 16, 2026.