Daijiworld Media Network – Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Oct 16: The remains of a man found inside a deteriorated metal drum at Lake Mead near Las Vegas in 2022 have been identified as those of Edward Lelburian Jackson, but investigators are yet to determine who killed him.

Clark County Coroner Melanie Rouse identified Jackson on Thursday through genealogical testing. He was believed to have been in his mid-to-late 50s at the time of his death.

Police said Jackson died from a single gunshot wound to the head and was murdered. Investigators believe he was killed in the early 1980s, based on clothing remnants and interviews with his family.

The discovery attracted widespread attention after the reservoir’s receding waters exposed the remains. The body was found on May 1, 2022, inside a badly deteriorated 50-gallon drum containing mostly bones, along with parts of a shirt and belt.

Shawna Hollister, whose husband discovered the drum, told local media at the time that he had heard a woman scream and went to investigate before finding the remains.

Authorities said Oklahoma State University, which took over the testing, developed a strong lead earlier this year. A DNA sample sent to a possible relative ultimately confirmed Jackson’s identity.

Jackson, who was also known as “Buddy”, was originally from Arkansas and had travelled around the country. He had lived in Los Angeles and was married in the early 1970s. Investigators said he had no known connection to Las Vegas and no information suggested that he had gambled.

Officials also found records of Jackson’s criminal history in Utah in the early 1980s, involving charges of aggravated arson and conspiracy related to fraud. He had no known children, police said.

The discovery, along with Las Vegas’ history, prompted speculation about possible organised crime involvement. However, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police homicide Lieutenant Robert Price said investigators had found no evidence to support those theories.

Police have spoken with relatives, but they had limited information about Jackson’s life, work and personality. Investigators are appealing to the public for information from anyone who knew him or could shed light on his associates and activities.

“It’s an unsolved case. It’ll never be closed until we solve it,” Price said, describing the identification as one piece of a larger puzzle.

Other remains discovered at Lake Mead in 2022 were subsequently identified as those of Thomas Erndt, 42, of Las Vegas, who was reported to have drowned in 2002, and Donald P Smith, 39, of North Las Vegas, who drowned in 1974, according to the coroner’s office.

The remains of Claude Russell Pensinger, 52, of Las Vegas, who disappeared on July 14, 1998, were identified in 2023. However, authorities could not determine the cause or manner of his death.

Lake Mead, a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam, has experienced a prolonged drought lasting more than 25 years, with water levels falling significantly. The receding waters have exposed areas of the reservoir that had remained submerged for decades.