Lake Mead Barrel Victim Identified as Edward Lelburian Jackson
Clark County coroner Melanie Rouse has identified the man whose remains were found inside a barrel at Lake Mead as Edward Lelburian Jackson.
Rouse named Jackson at a press conference on Thursday. Jackson, also known as 'Buddy,' was believed to have been in his mid to late-50s, according to The Guardian.
Boaters found his remains in 2022 near Hemenway Harbor at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The barrel had been left exposed as water levels dropped. An initial autopsy found he had been killed by a single shot to the head.
Investigators believe Jackson was likely killed in the mid-1970s to early 1980s. That estimate is based largely on the style of clothing he was wearing. When found, he had on a button-down short-sleeve shirt, light blue jeans, blue-and-white tennis shoes and a silver wristwatch.
The identification followed work with a forensics team from Oklahoma State University. Investigators said the university team received a strong lead this year. A DNA comparison using a sample from Jackson and a sample from his believed family member then confirmed the remains were his.
Jackson was from Arkansas. His family last saw him in the early 1980s. He later lived briefly with his wife in California.
Court records show Jackson was charged in Utah with aggravated arson and a conspiracy fraud case. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt Robert Price said detectives have not found anything tying Jackson to the Las Vegas area.
Price also said investigators have no information to support theories tying the homicide to an organized criminal group. A second barrel found near the first barrel by a KLAS-TV news crew was empty.
