Uncovering a Half-Century Secret: Human Bones Discovered in Shallow Las Vegas Reservoir

Lake Mead, 50 kilometers from Las Vegas, located on the Colorado River, rapidly shallowing, discovered human remains. Served as a fishing, swimming and boating destination for decades, it was famous for the legends that the underworld used it as a safe depository for corpses.

In 2022, several bodies were indeed found at the bottom, and now, months later, one more of them was identified.

Associated Press informsthat the deceased’s name was Donald P. Smith and he was 39 yearswhen in April 1974 he disappeared into the waters of the largest reservoir in the United States. The death was ruled an accident. Tellingly, the police had no reports of his disappearance, a drowning report, or family contacts.

Among other remains, which exposed the lake, which has receded 52 meters since 1983 (its water level has fallen by 70%), is a skeleton stuffed into a barrel: the victim died from a shot in the head. His name has not yet been established. In addition, the remains were found and the name established 42 years old Thomas Erndt, who drowned during a night boat trip in 2002. The family spoke about it. Another remains were scattered along the coastline – they are still being identified.