The identity of a man whose remains were found in a barrel in Lake Mead in 2022 has been publicly confirmed as Edward Lelburian Jackson. Clark County coroner Melanie Rouse announced his name at a press conference on Thursday, 15 October 2026, four years after the discovery.
Jackson, who also went by 'Buddy', is believed to have been in his mid to late-50s. An initial autopsy indicated he was killed by a single gunshot to the head, likely between the mid-1970s and early 1980s, based on his clothing style.
Investigators used DNA analysis, with a forensics team at Oklahoma State University partnering in the effort, to confirm Jackson's identity. He was from Arkansas, and authorities have not yet found any information connecting him to the Las Vegas area. His family last saw him in the early 1980s.
While there has been past speculation about ties to organised crime, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt Robert Price stated that current investigation does not support these theories. The identification of Jackson allows the investigation into his murder to continue.
Jackson's remains were among several uncovered from Lake Mead in recent years as water levels have reached historic lows due to drought and overuse. Other human remains have been found, though officials found no evidence of foul play in those cases.