Lake Mead Hits Record Low, Revealing New Human Remains as 2022 Murder Case Remains Unsolved

When Lake Mead last plunged to record-low water levels in 2022, its dramatically receding shoreline revealed all manner of curiosities.

For the first time in years, the sun shone on the gutted frame of a World War II-era vessel. Water retracted from the abandoned wreck of a houseboat. Dozens of sunken skiffs and speedboats, long written off by their owners, sat dry on the sand.

But in time, much graver secrets also emerged.

On a bright May morning that year, a visitor stumbled across a metal barrel at Hemenway Harbor. The barrel was so corroded that she could see the decomposed remains of a man sealed inside.

The man was determined to be a homicide victim who likely died sometime in the 1970s or 1980s. But identifying the decades-old body has proven far more difficult.

Known as the Hemenway Harbor Doe, the discovery fueled widespread public speculation, which grew after three additional sets of human remains were found in Lake Mead in 2022.

Now, persistent drought has pushed Lake Mead to another historic low this month, exposing more of the reservoir’s shoreline and revealing new mysteries.

Just days after the reservoir reached a record low of 1,040.5 feet, a man searching among rocks near the water’s edge on August 16 discovered a jawbone with yellowed teeth, according to local reports. Several other bones were found nearby.

The remains were collected by the Clark County Coroner’s Office, which is working to identify the person and determine the cause of death. Park officials are investigating but do not believe the person was the victim of a crime.

Searching for Hemenway Harbor Doe

When police discovered the steel barrel at Lake Mead in May 2022, investigators quickly determined they were dealing with a homicide. The victim had suffered a gunshot wound, according to Las Vegas police.

Investigators believe whoever disposed of the body took significant steps to prevent it from being discovered. The barrel had been punctured and dumped far offshore.

At the time, Lake Mead was nearing its highest levels. The reservoir reached 1,225 feet above sea level in 1983. Since then, water levels have fallen nearly 200 feet because of drought, climate pressures and continued water use throughout the Colorado River system.

When the victim was placed in the barrel, the location may have been roughly a half-mile to a mile offshore.

The victim was wearing a striped button-down shirt, jeans and Velcro sneakers. Investigators believe the clothing helped establish that he died sometime between the mid-1970s and early 1980s.

Authorities have used forensic dentistry, DNA analysis and genetic genealogy in an effort to identify him. FBI experts also created facial approximations of what the man may have looked like.

Despite those efforts, the Hemenway Harbor Doe remains unidentified.

Vegas’ mob ties loom large

The circumstances surrounding the killing quickly led to speculation that the victim could have been connected to organized crime.

Theories about Las Vegas mob involvement have circulated for years, but investigators have repeatedly said there is no solid evidence supporting them.

The timing has nevertheless fueled speculation. The victim is believed to have been killed during the late 1970s or early 1980s, when organized crime still had significant influence over Las Vegas casinos.

But experts say the method of disposing of the body is not uniquely associated with the mob.

“It could have just been drug issue, or it could have been an individual who didn’t pay their debts,” Geoff Schumacher of the Mob Museum told CNN. “There’s all kinds of reasons why people were killed.”

Some things are still submerged

As Lake Mead continues to fall, more objects and remains could emerge from the reservoir.

The lake has been the site of drownings in which victims were never recovered. Two of the sets of remains discovered in 2022 belonged to drowning victims.

Other submerged history includes a B-29 Superfortress bomber that crashed into Lake Mead more than 70 years ago. The aircraft once sat more than 200 feet underwater but has become increasingly accessible as water levels have declined.

The historic wreck is now open to recreational divers.

As drought continues to reshape Lake Mead, the reservoir’s underwater world is moving closer to the surface — potentially revealing more of the lake’s hidden history.