NV NV - Multiple Sets of Human Remains Found in Lake Mead

[ifindedout]

Diver finds more human remains in Lake Mead, marking at least the sixth discovery this year

By Elizabeth Wolfe and Amanda Musa, CNN (CNN) -- After a diver found what appeared to be a human bone in Lake Mead, the park searched the area and uncovered more human remains, the National Park Service confirmed Wednesday.The diver, who is a pr

www.abc57.com

Oct 27 2022 rbbm.
'The Clark County Coroner's Office, which is handling the remains found this year, previously told CNN that medical examiners were still working to determine whether the partial sets were from separate people.

It is unclear if the bone found on October 17 and the remains found on October 18 belong to the same person.

"At this time, no foul play is suspected," Dawn said. "The Clark County coroner's office has been contacted to confirm the identity of the deceased."

View attachment 375849

ITA, but was a different image intended?

 

[dotr]

ITA, but was a different image intended?

Oops, thank you, please disregard map pic with that post #200!

 

[Puzzleworth]

Hi, I hope this kind of post is okay here. I've been trying to put together info and links on all of the bodies that are turning up in Lake Mead due to the water level. I had a much more detailed post in my drafts, but the post editor appears to have eaten it, so this is attempt #2.

There have also been a number of deaths in the National Recreation Area this year; however, all the known victims' bodies have been recovered. No unidentified bodies are connected to any deaths this year.

c. July 21, 2021: South Cove Doe (no WS thread or Namus Entry, Mohave County Medical Examiner's Office press release available) A human femur was found on the Colorado River. Through a series of miscommunications, it was originally classified as animal by the Medical Examiner and believed to be destroyed per protocol. News station KLAS Las Vegas performed an investigation that found the MCMEO never actually took possession of the bone to destroy it; it was actually kept in secure evidence storage by the NPS at Lake Mead. The MCMEO stated that they had been sent pictures of a different bone, which they sent to an unnamed forensic anthropologist, who told the office it was animal. (MCMEO appears to have its own problems beyond this) The bone was finally transferred to the Mohave County Medical Examiners Office for investigation c. September 29, 2022.

1. May 1, 2022: Hemenway Harbor Boat Ramp Doe, or "the body in the barrel" (WS link, Park Service press release, Namus #UP94847) The skeletal remains of an adult male were found in a barrel weighted with concrete. He had been shot to death. Clothing indicates the man had been killed around the early 1980s. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
2. IDENTIFIED: May 7, 2022: Callville Bay Doe (WS link, Park Service press release for discovery, Park Service press release for identification) Full or nearly-full skeleton buried in sand. IDed as Mr. Thomas Erndt, age 42, of Las Vegas, NV. He had drowned August 2, 2002.
3. July 25, 2022: Boulder/Swim Beach Remains #1 (no WS thread or Namus entry. Park Service press release available) A semi-preserved torso(?) was found floating in shallow water by a beachwalker "around 4:30 PM on July 25." It was limbless and covered in adipocere, indicating it had been underwater for a year or more. There has been little further public activity in this case. However, at least one family, that of Kenneth Funk, believes the remains are their missing loved one. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
4. August 6, 2022: Boulder/Swim Beach Remains #2 (No WS thread or Namus, Park Service press release available) Long bones, skeletal, appearing to be at least one leg and one arm, found August 6, possibly belonging to the torso found on July 25th. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
5. August 15, 2022: Boulder/Swim Beach Remains #3 (No WS thread or Namus entry, Park Service press release available) Details on remains unavailable; LVPD Dive Team was called to retrieve them, indicating they were in fairly deep water. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
6. October 18, 2022: Callville Bay Doe #2 (No WS thread or Namus entry, news articles only) Skeleton retrieved the day after a bone was found by a private business diver, possibly from Earth Resource Group, in Callville Bay. Not much info as of now. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.

More bodies may still be in the lake. Steve Schafer of Earth Resource Group, the company mentioned above, and two coworkers are volunteering with an ROV and a side-scanning sonar unit to find bodies for the Park Service. That's some serious dedication. Fingers crossed they stay safe.

(edited for minor clarifications)

 

[TootsieFootsie]

As Lake Mead water levels drop, how many bodies are connected to Chicago mob?

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Well, what the Chicago Outfit may have intended to stay in a Vegas lake has now begun floating to the surface

abc7chicago.com

 

[subaw0067]

I think one of these has to be Maria Bozi. She was likely murdered by her husband in September of 1999 and she lived practically on Boulder/ Swim beach. The purple pin below shows where she went missing.

 

[subaw0067]

I emailed the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to see if Maria Bozi has been excluded or if there are plans to exclude her, so I'm hoping to hear something back.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

Hi, I hope this kind of post is okay here. I've been trying to put together info and links on all of the bodies that are turning up in Lake Mead due to the water level. I had a much more detailed post in my drafts, but the post editor appears to have eaten it, so this is attempt #2.

There have also been a number of deaths in the National Recreation Area this year; however, all the known victims' bodies have been recovered. No unidentified bodies are connected to any deaths this year.

c. July 21, 2021: South Cove Doe (no WS thread or Namus Entry, Mohave County Medical Examiner's Office press release available) A human femur was found on the Colorado River. Through a series of miscommunications, it was originally classified as animal by the Medical Examiner and believed to be destroyed per protocol. News station KLAS Las Vegas performed an investigation that found the MCMEO never actually took possession of the bone to destroy it; it was actually kept in secure evidence storage by the NPS at Lake Mead. The MCMEO stated that they had been sent pictures of a different bone, which they sent to an unnamed forensic anthropologist, who told the office it was animal. (MCMEO appears to have its own problems beyond this) The bone was finally transferred to the Mohave County Medical Examiners Office for investigation c. September 29, 2022.

1. May 1, 2022: Hemenway Harbor Boat Ramp Doe, or "the body in the barrel" (WS link, Park Service press release, Namus #UP94847) The skeletal remains of an adult male were found in a barrel weighted with concrete. He had been shot to death. Clothing indicates the man had been killed around the early 1980s. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
2. IDENTIFIED: May 7, 2022: Callville Bay Doe (WS link, Park Service press release for discovery, Park Service press release for identification) Full or nearly-full skeleton buried in sand. IDed as Mr. Thomas Erndt, age 42, of Las Vegas, NV. He had drowned August 2, 2002.
3. July 25, 2022: Boulder/Swim Beach Remains #1 (no WS thread or Namus entry. Park Service press release available) A semi-preserved torso(?) was found floating in shallow water by a beachwalker "around 4:30 PM on July 25." It was limbless and covered in adipocere, indicating it had been underwater for a year or more. There has been little further public activity in this case. However, at least one family, that of Kenneth Funk, believes the remains are their missing loved one. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
4. August 6, 2022: Boulder/Swim Beach Remains #2 (No WS thread or Namus, Park Service press release available) Long bones, skeletal, appearing to be at least one leg and one arm, found August 6, possibly belonging to the torso found on July 25th. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
5. August 15, 2022: Boulder/Swim Beach Remains #3 (No WS thread or Namus entry, Park Service press release available) Details on remains unavailable; LVPD Dive Team was called to retrieve them, indicating they were in fairly deep water. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
6. October 18, 2022: Callville Bay Doe #2 (No WS thread or Namus entry, news articles only) Skeleton retrieved the day after a bone was found by a private business diver, possibly from Earth Resource Group, in Callville Bay. Not much info as of now. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.

More bodies may still be in the lake. Steve Schafer of Earth Resource Group, the company mentioned above, and two coworkers are volunteering with an ROV and a side-scanning sonar unit to find bodies for the Park Service. That's some serious dedication. Fingers crossed they stay safe.

(edited for minor clarifications)

Excellent post. The 'like' button didn't work.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Central Texas family spreads ashes of man uncovered by historic drought

Months after a Central Texas woman got the call she never thought would come, her family's tragedy has come full circle.

www.kxxv.com

CENTRAL TEXAS — In a 25 News Exclusive, months after a Central Texas woman got the call she never thought would come, her family's tragedy has come full circle.

In October 2022, 25 News reported how the major drought out West caused the water level at Lake Mead to drop to a historic low.

Paddleboarders stumbled upon what they thought was a rock, but to their surprise, it ended up being a skeleton.

A DNA match would later confirm, they found the remains of Thomas Erndt.

Bushman told 25 News in an exclusive interview, her dad's final wishes were to be cremated and "thrown in the lake, which is kind of ironic," Bushman said.

And that's exactly what they did.

On February 11, the family got together at Lake Mead outside Las Vegas for a memorial, to spread Erndt's ashes on what would have been his 64th birthday.

Bushman describes the lake as her father's happy place.

"Brings me a lot of peace," Bushman told 25 News.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“We had a $494,000 donation last year which they (the donors) targeted to Jane and John Doe identifications,” says League member Justin Woo. “Some in California, some in Texas, then a few in Las Vegas.”

Working with Othram Laboratory in Texas, Woo’s non-profit pays for advanced genealogical DNA testing.

Then there’s this, News3 asking: “Are we any closer on the human being that was found in a barrel out at Lake Mead?

“That is in active investigation,” says Rouse.

It also appears on NamUs.

A homicide victim found in a barrel at Hemenway Harbor in May.

Receding water levels revealing a secret that could’ve been in the lake since the late 1970’s.

“You can have the best set of specimens, the best remains, you can have excellent dental records and information for the decedent but if you don't have anything to compare that to, you can't make an I.D,” says Rouse.

Rouse adds cases that remain unidentified represent a small percentage of those that come to her office.

And support from the community and groups like Vegas Justice League is an enormous benefit.

“It's a nice and rare thing for that to happen,” says Rouse.

Giving the missing, their names.

Solving the mysteries still buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Identifying John Does

KSNV NBC Las Vegas covers news, sports, weather and traffic for the Las Vegas, Nevada area including Paradise, Spring Valley, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Indian Springs, Sloan, Searchlight, Laughlin and Nellis AFB.

news3lv.com

 

[Susikatze]

Great news!

 

[Puzzleworth]

October 18, 2022: Callville Bay Doe #2 (No WS thread or Namus entry, news articles only) Skeleton retrieved the day after a bone was found by a private business diver, possibly from Earth Resource Group, in Callville Bay. Not much info as of now. Appear to currently be in custody of Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.

Identified as Donald P. Smith, 39, of North Las Vegas, NV. May he rest easy. Mr. Smith reportedly drowned in April 1974(!) and was identified by DNA in 2023. His death has been ruled an accident.

1. July 25, 2022: Boulder/Swim Beach Remains #1 [snip]
2. August 6, 2022: Boulder/Swim Beach Remains #2 [snip]
3. August 15, 2022: Boulder/Swim Beach Remains #3 [snip]

From the article above: DNA showed that all three of these remains belong to a single person. They have not been identified.

 

[Ozoner]

Identified as Donald P. Smith, 39, of North Las Vegas, NV. . . Mr. Smith reportedly drowned in April 1974(!) . . ..

Gadzooks!

From the article above: DNA showed that all three of these remains belong to a single person. They have not been identified.

One has to wonder how old the unidentified skeletal remains could be. At this point I won't be surprised if it turns out to be someone who drowned in the 1950s or earlier.

 

[hafom8840]

Identified as Donald P. Smith, 39, of North Las Vegas, NV. May he rest easy. Mr. Smith reportedly drowned in April 1974(!) and was identified by DNA in 2023. His death has been ruled an accident.


From the article above: DNA showed that all three of these remains belong to a single person. They have not been identified.

R.I.P.

 

[Puzzleworth]

Gadzooks!


One has to wonder how old the unidentified skeletal remains could be. At this point I won't be surprised if it turns out to be someone who drowned in the 1950s or earlier.

There was still some tissue on the beach remains, so I'm inclined to think they are newer. (mostly adipocere, there's a video somewhere but I will not be posting it)

 

[sds71]

When could remains at Lake Mead, including body in barrel, be identified?

Since May, four sets of human remains have been found at Lake Mead. As of Monday, the Clark County coroner’s office had identified two of them, with investigations into the other pair – including a…

www.8newsnow.com

 

[hafom8840]

When could remains at Lake Mead, including body in barrel, be identified?

Since May, four sets of human remains have been found at Lake Mead. As of Monday, the Clark County coroner’s office had identified two of them, with investigations into the other pair – including a…

www.8newsnow.com

Good lord. Those remains from the photo alone are in quite intact condition yet I know it's gonna be impossible to ID them.

 

[musicaljoke]

Good lord. Those remains from the photo alone are in quite intact condition yet I know it's gonna be impossible to ID them.

Oh dear! I guess they've never heard of @othram .

 

[Curious_in_NC]

I was curious about the lake's current conditions. It looks like water levels are about 6 feet higher now than they were in mid July 2022 when it was at its lowest level.

https://lakemead.water-data.com/

 

[sds71]

Claude Pensinger was fishing with his brother, who was in a separate boat, when Claude failed to meet at a location on Lake Mead later in the day, documents the Investigators obtained say.

Human remains found at Lake Mead identified as missing Las Vegas man

The Clark County coroner’s office, has identified three sets of remains found at Lake Mead last year as one man who disappeared in 1998.

www.8newsnow.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Human remains found last summer at drought-stricken Lake Mead have been identified as a Las Vegas man missing since July 1998, authorities said Wednesday.

Claude Russell Pensinger was 52 at the time, the Clark County coroner's office said, noting that his bones were found over the course of three days last July and August on newly exposed shoreline near the Boulder Beach swimming area. A cause of death was not determined, a coroner's statement said.

A telephone call to possible family members was not returned, and Las Vegas police Officer Robert Wicks said it will take time to determine if the department has a missing person report related to Pensinger.

His identification came after investigators last month identified remains found in another part of the Colorado River reservoir behind Hoover Dam as Donald P. Smith, a 39-year-old North Las Vegas resident. He was reported to have drowned in April 1974. His death was ruled an accident.

Authorities are still trying to identify a man who police say was shot in the head and stuffed into a barrel. He was found on May 1, 2022, near a popular swimming and boating area. Detectives said his clothing dated from the mid-1970s to early 1980s. The death is being investigated as a homicide.

Coroner: Lake Mead bones were Vegas man missing since 1998

Human remains found last summer at drought-stricken Lake Mead have been identified as a Las Vegas man missing since July 1998, authorities said Wednesday.

www.ksl.com