The Clark County coroner's office identified the man found in a barrel at Lake Mead in 2022 as Edward "Buddy" Lelburian Jackson, according to a report published October 15. Jackson, who was believed to be in his mid-to-late 50s at the time of his death, was found with a gunshot wound to the head at Hemenway Harbor.
The identification was achieved through genealogy profiling following a bone sample sent in 2024, which received a close match. Forensic scientists at Oklahoma State University helped find a compelling match to Jackson's family earlier this year. The coroner's office had previously sought assistance from the FBI in September 2022 to create composite images of Jackson's face for the NamUs missing and identified persons database.
Investigations revealed that Jackson had ties to Arkansas, California, and Utah. Records indicate he was married and living with a wife in California during the early 1970s and held a criminal record from the early 1980s for conspiracy to commit fraud and aggravated arson in Salt Lake City. While officials noted speculation regarding organized crime, Metro Lt. Robert Price stated on Thursday, Oct. 15, that there is currently no evidence to support theories that the death was mob-related.
The body was discovered by boaters on May 1, 2022, aided by declining water levels in Lake Mead. Investigators noted that the clothing Jackson was wearing likely dates from the late 1970s to early 1980s, which aligns with family recollections of him visiting Arkansas during that period.
Homicide detectives will continue to work to solve the crime. Metro Lt. Robert Price encouraged anyone with information to come forward to homicide detectives or Crime Stoppers.
