Las Vegas police say DNA has identified the man found in a corroded barrel at Lake Mead in May 2022 as Edward “Buddy” Lelburian Jackson. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said Jackson died from a gunshot to the head and is believed to have been killed in the 1980s, as reported by BBC News.
Detective: No evidence of mob link
Homicide Detective Robert Price said at a Thursday news conference that investigators have no evidence tying the death to any known criminal group, despite public speculation. “At this point in our investigation, we don’t have information to support those theories,” Price said, according to BBC News.
What investigators say they know
LVMPD said Jackson was likely in his mid to late 50s when he was killed. He was originally from Arkansas and was known to travel across the U.S. West, with prior residences in California and Utah, officials said. Price noted Jackson had been arrested previously in Salt Lake City, had no known ties to Las Vegas, and was never reported missing. Relatives in Arkansas told police he moved around frequently; “He would travel the country. He would show up when he showed up,” Price said, per BBC News.
Evidence and limits
Price said the bullet that killed Jackson has not been found and nothing besides his clothing was in the barrel. Authorities have not released new photos of Jackson. LVMPD used a 3D rendering of the victim’s skull during the identification effort, according to BBC News.
Why the case surfaced
The barrel was exposed after severe drought lowered Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, which supplies drinking water to about 20 million people from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Police had previously warned that more bodies could emerge as water levels recede. Authorities have identified three other people found in the lake; two are believed to have drowned, and a third death remains unexplained, BBC News reported.
What’s next
Police are still working to identify the shooter and any motive. Price said tracking down Jackson’s associates could be difficult, given his travel habits. The investigation remains open.
