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Las Vegas Homicide Victim Identified in Lake Mead Barrel
Las Vegas officials identify a homicide victim found in Lake Mead barrel as Edward Lelburian Jackson, an Arkansas man killed in the early 1980s.
In brief
Las Vegas officials identify a homicide victim found in Lake Mead barrel as Edward Lelburian Jackson, an Arkansas man killed in the early 1980s. Las Vegas officials identified Edward Lelburian Jackson, an Arkansas man killed in the early 1980s, as the homicide victim found in a Lake Mead barrel. Originally reported by…
Homicide victim identified
Las Vegas officials identified a homicide victim whose body was found in a rusted barrel on Lake Mead shore after the lake's level dropped amid drought.
“The remains of a man who was shot in the head and stuffed into a rusted barrel found on the shore of Lake Mead after the water level dropped were identified Thursday as an Arkansas man whose decades-old killing remains unsolved.”
Edward Lelburian Jackson
Edward Lelburian Jackson, who was in his mid- to late 50s when he died, was identified by Clark County Coroner Melanie Rouse.
“Edward Lelburian Jackson was in his mid- to late 50s when he died, Clark County Coroner Melanie Rouse said.”
Decades-old killing unsolved
Authorities are looking for people to come forward to help solve Jackson's killing, which has remained unsolved for decades.
“Authorities are looking for people to come forward to help solve Jackson's killing.”
No organized crime link
There was no evidence directly linking the killing to organized crime in Las Vegas despite longstanding speculation, although a connection hasn't been ruled out.
“There was no evidence directly linking the killing to organized crime in nearby Las Vegas despite longstanding speculation, although a connection hasn't been ruled out, police said.”
Mob hit 'earmarks'
A museum researcher said the case bears the 'earmarks' of a mob hit, mirroring another case from 1976 when Italian mobster John Roselli was killed and stuffed in a barrel.
“Geoff Schumacher, vice president of research, collections and programs at The Mob Museum in Las Vegas, said there are still many questions about who Jackson was and what he was involved in that 'earned him a trip in a barrel into the lake.'”
Jackson's background
Jackson, believed to be from Hot Springs, Arkansas, had a brief criminal history in the early 1980s in Salt Lake City, Utah, which included one charge of aggravated arson and conspiracy to commit fraud.
“Jackson, believed to be from Hot Springs, Arkansas, had a brief criminal history in the early 1980s in Salt Lake City, Utah, which included one charge of aggravated arson and conspiracy to commit fraud, said Robert Price, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department homicide lieutenant.”
Unclear why in Las Vegas
Jackson's family told investigators he liked to travel, and detectives found records of him in California where he lived with his wife in the early '70s, but it is unclear why he was in Las…
“Jackson's family told investigators that he liked to travel and detectives found records of him in California, where he lived with his wife in the early '70s. His family said they last saw him in Arkansas in the early '80s, and it is unclear why he was in Las Vegas.”
No missing report
Jackson's family did not report him missing, saying they knew he traveled and would show up when he showed up.
“The family didn't report him missing. 'They knew that he had traveled the country, would show up when he showed up, just to say hi. But they didn't think anything other than that. They just figured he was out and about,' he said.”
Lake Mead drought impact
Lake Mead's historic low water level due to drought has exposed areas previously underwater, leading to the discovery of multiple human remains.
“Now, Lake Mead is at a historic low due to years of overuse, longstanding drought and increasing temperatures. The water level of the 90-year-old reservoir has dropped, exposing areas that were previously underwater.”
Here's the gist
Las Vegas officials identified Edward Lelburian Jackson, an Arkansas man killed in the early 1980s, as the homicide victim found in a Lake Mead barrel.
