World · North America · 4 hrs ago
Lake Mead barrel murder victim identified more than four years after discovery
Authorities in Clark County, Nevada, have identified the man found in a barrel at Lake Mead on May 1, 2022.
Boaters found the barrel after falling water levels exposed it, and investigators determined the remains belonged to an adult man.
Officials believe he was shot in the back of the head and died sometime from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s.
His name has not been publicly released, and officials have not explained how they confirmed his identity.
DNA work, the man’s clothing and personal belongings helped investigators build a profile and pursue identification.
The case drew attention because the killing and barrel prompted comparisons with organized crime, but no mob connection has been established.
Detectives are still working to find who was responsible, and Clark County officials and local police are expected to provide more details.
Authorities identified the homicide victim whose remains were found in a barrel at Lake Mead in May 2022, more than four years after the discovery.
The victim’s name had not been publicly released in the reports available.
Investigators believe the man was shot and killed between the late 1970s and early 1980s, then placed in the barrel and dumped in the lake.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office and Las Vegas police worked together on the identification, using DNA and other evidence.
The investigation remains open as detectives seek to determine who killed him.
- Who
- An adult male homicide victim whose name had not yet been publicly released.
- What
- His remains were identified more than four years after they were found in a barrel at Lake Mead.
- When
- The remains were found on May 1, 2022. Authorities believe he was killed between the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Where
- Hemenway Harbor at Lake Mead, Nevada.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Visitors found a barrel containing human remains at Hemenway Harbor as Lake Mead’s water level declined.
Clark County Coroner Melanie Rouse discussed the identification challenges in an interview with News 3.
ABC News reported that authorities believed they had identified the victim.
KSNV reported that the remains had been identified, while the victim’s name had not yet been publicly released.
- Discovery date
- May 1, 2022
- Discovery site
- Hemenway Harbor, Lake Mead
- Victim
- Adult male; name not publicly released in the reports
- Estimated death period
- Late 1970s to early 1980s
- Evidence used
- DNA, clothing and personal belongings
- Investigation status
- Ongoing
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What people are saying
We could have the best investigation ever with the most solid information, but if we don't have anything to compare it to and there is not already a profile already created for that individual for us to make a comparison then we can’t make an I.D.
Somebody out there is sweating, because they know that we've got the body, we've got the evidence, and it's only a matter of time before we find out who it is. And once we find out who it is, it'll kick into high gear