Authorities in Nevada identified the remains of a man found in a rusted barrel at Lake Mead as Edward Lelburian Jackson, an Arkansas resident who was in his mid-to-late 50s when he died. Clark County Coroner Melanie Rouse announced the identification on Thursday, October 15, 2026, following the use of genealogical DNA profiling. Jackson, who also went by the name "Buddy," had been shot in the head before his body was placed in a drum and submerged in the reservoir.
The barrel was discovered by boaters in May 2022 after water levels in Lake Mead dropped. The discovery occurred during a period when receding waters exposed several sets of human remains and artifacts, including a World War II-era ship. Historian Michael Green noted that the perpetrator likely believed the body would remain submerged, as water levels in the early 1980s were high enough to flood the Hoover Dam spillways.
Investigators from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department believe Jackson was killed in the early 1980s based on his clothing—a short-sleeve button-down shirt, light blue jeans, and blue-and-white tennis shoes—and family interviews. Jackson had a brief criminal history in Salt Lake City during that era, including charges of aggravated arson and conspiracy to commit fraud. While his family last saw him in Arkansas in the early 1980s, they did not report him missing, stating they were accustomed to him traveling the country and appearing unexpectedly.
Robert Price, a homicide lieutenant with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, stated that while there is currently no evidence linking the killing to organized crime, that possibility has not been ruled out. Geoff Schumacher of The Mob Museum in Las Vegas observed that the case carries the "earmarks" of a mob hit, citing a similar 1976 case involving an Italian mobster. Detectives noted that Jackson lived in California with his wife in the 1970s but could not yet explain his presence in Las Vegas at the time of his death.
The identification affects the extended family of Edward Jackson, who had not heard from him since the early 1980s. Investigators interviewed family members several degrees removed to confirm his identity. For the 2.4 million residents of Las Vegas who rely on Lake Mead for drinking water, the discovery of remains in 2022 coincided with a broader environmental shift. In 2022, the reservoir reached record lows, which forced local water authorities to switch to a deeper intake valve to maintain the city's water supply.
The resolution of this identity marks the final identification of four sets of human remains found at the lake in 2022. The other three cases involved victims from 1974, 1998, and 2002. Jackson's identity was confirmed using genealogical profiling, where DNA from a bone sample was matched against public databases to find relatives. Before this, Jackson’s identity remained unknown despite the creation of three facial composites and analysis of his silver wristwatch and clothing.
The investigation now shifts from identification to a homicide probe. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officials stated the case will remain open until a suspect is identified. Homicide detectives and researchers from The Mob Museum are continuing to review records to determine who Jackson was involved with prior to his death. There are currently no suspects in custody.