Developing Drought Uncovers Dead Bodies
Luz Riquiran
As climate change continues to worsen, water levels around the world are getting lower. Even the largest man-made reservoir in the country has dropped to the lowest level in its history. This developing drought has led to the discovery of human remains. As more bodies are revealed, people of Las Vegas are forming theories of what could have happened to the unidentified victims.
Lake Mead is the biggest reservoir in the country and is formed by the Hoover Dam. It provides water to California, Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico. The effects of climate change will affect the four states that use water from Lake Mead. Today, Lake Mead is only 30% full. According to Fox 10 Phoenix news, the water level of Lake Mead today is 1,052 feet compared to 2,000 feet in the 1930s.
As the water levels of Lake Mead drop, there is a possibility that cold cases can be solved. On May 1st, around 3 p.m, a body in a barrel was found by boaters near the resevoir’s Hemingway Fishing Pier. The boaters found the barrel stuck in mud. Once they realized there was a body inside, the police were notified. The barrel seemed to have been intact when it was dropped in. Based on the clothing and footwear the body had on, it is believed that the person was killed in either the 1970s or 1980s. Investigators say the victim’s cause of death was a gunshot wound. Many speculate that the person could have been a victim of a mob killing. According to Ashley Soriano at Fox 10 Phoenix news, around the time when the victim died, Las Vegas mobs were often took extreme measures. Mobs had to take actions of violence in order to stay under the radar. Soriano believes, “[D]umping bodies in barrels was a signature move from the mob.” However, Las Vegas investigators have not determined who the killer was yet.
After the first body was found, detectives stated that there was a possibility of more bodies being uncovered. They weren’t wrong. On May 7, around 2 p.m, a second body was discovered by two sisters paddle boarding. According to ABC News, the sisters uncovered the body when they were exploring a sandbar. Before the water level had dropped, the sand bar was underwater. The cause of death is still unknown, but the second body incited more theories of mob involvement.
Many believe that the two bodies are only the start, and many more will soon be discovered. With this comes the hope of old cold cases finally being solved. As intriguing as it sounds, investigators say that it will be difficult to uncover what happened. At one point, the reservoir’s water levels were higher than they are now. Currents could have moved the bodies away from their initial dumpsites, making it even more difficult to pinpoint where exactly the crimes happened. In addition, the body in a barrel could provide a bigger challenge, as it most likely decomposed fast. Bodies that are exposed to water take a shorter time to decompose. According to the New York Times, “[S]cavengers like water bugs, crabs, fish and birds can complicate efforts to determine identities and causes of death.” Investigators are not discouraged and are working hard to solve the mysteries of the two unidentified bodies.
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