Drought has been steadily draining Lake Mead for years, exposing sunken boats, forgotten wreckage -- and, it turns out, decades-old human remains.
The Discovery
On October 17, 2022, contractors working near the Callville Bay marina at Lake Mead found skeletal human remains. Additional remains found nearby two days later were determined to belong to the same individual. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner identified the remains as Donald P. Smith, a 39-year-old North Las Vegas resident who had been reported drowned in April 1974. DNA analysis, combined with the original 1974 incident report, confirmed the identification. His death was ruled an accidental drowning.
A Pattern of Discoveries
Smith's remains were one of several sets of human remains uncovered at Lake Mead in a single year as historic drought conditions dropped the reservoir's water level dramatically. Also identified was Thomas Erndt, a Las Vegas resident reported drowned in 2002 at age 42, whose remains were found in the same Callville Bay area. Additional remains found separately at Boulder Beach were determined to belong to a single, still-unidentified individual.
A Separate, Active Homicide Case
In a related but distinct discovery, remains found inside a barrel at Hemenway Harbor were determined to belong to a man who died of a gunshot wound. Las Vegas homicide investigators have said they believe that death was a homicide, likely occurring sometime between the mid-1970s and early 1980s, and that case remains an active investigation.
FAQ
How was Donald P. Smith identified after so long?
DNA analysis combined with the original 1974 missing person report confirmed his identity.
Why are so many remains being found at Lake Mead recently?
Historic drought conditions have significantly lowered the reservoir's water level, exposing previously submerged remains and wreckage.
Are any of these deaths being investigated as homicides?
Yes -- separately from Smith's accidental drowning, remains found in a barrel at Hemenway Harbor are being investigated as a homicide.