The identity of a Las Vegas body found in a barrel in Lake Mead will be announced today following a frenzy of speculation tying the homicide to a famous mobster.
asserted
identity → find → mobster
Decomposed human body remains were stuffed inside a corroded metal barrel and were discovered buried in the mud at Hemenway Harbor, Lake Mead in May 2022.
uncertain
remains → decompose → May
As water levels receded during an historic drought, the body was uncovered by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
asserted
body → recede → Department
According to Melanie Rouse, Clark County Coroner, the remains were a man who was killed by a gunshot to the head before he was squeezed into the metal drum.
uncertain
he → accord → drum
His estimated age was 40 to 50 years old.
asserted
age → estimate → ?
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County Coroner's office are expected to hold a news conference revealing the person's identity at 3pm PDT.
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Department → expect → PDT
Authorities have reported that the specific homicide method has been famously associated with Mob affiliated groups who dispose of their victims' bodies
'The minute you hear 'body in the barrel,' your mind instantly goes to, 'Wow, I wonder if this is connected to any type of organized crime or mob?'
asserted
this → report → crime
The fact of the matter is, we're not gonna know until the day that the remains are identified,' Lieutenant Jason Johansson of Las Vegas Metro Police Department told ABC News
Since then, speculation about the body's identity have circulated for four years as officials continued their investigation.
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officials → go → investigation
The identity of a Las Vegas body found in a barrel in Lake Mead will be announced today following frenzied speculations tying the homicide to a famous mobster
Decomposed human body remains were stuffed inside a corroded metal barrel and was discovered buried in the mud at Hemenway Harbor, Lake Mead in May 2022
Investigators also speculated if the homicide could be connected to Tony Spilotro, a notorious hitman for the Chicago Mafia in Las Vegas
As water levels receded during a historic drought, the body was uncovered by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
uncertain
body → find → Department
Pictured: Lake View Point, Lake Mead, Arizona, 1970
Critics have also questioned if the homicide victim was a prominent mobster figure after clothing was found in the barrel.
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clothing → picture → barrel
Investigators described the oil drum containing a watch, Kmart brand clothing, and sneakers.
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Investigators → describe → watch
These items helped confirm the time period of the murder to range from 1975 to 1985.
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items → help → 1985
Theories about his identity have been narrowed down to three main mob figures, Jonny Pappas, George 'Jay' Vandermark or William Crespo.
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Theories → narrow → figures
Pappas, also known as Yiannis Panagiotakos, was a Greek‑American who managed the Stardust hotel and other Las Vegas casinos.
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who → know → hotel
According to ABC News reports, during the mid-70s Pappas was running Echo Bay Marina, a popular Lake Mead location associated with organized crime.
uncertain
Pappas → accord → crime
Vandermark was a slot machine worker at the Stardust who vanished in 1976 while being pursued by the Chicago Outfit crime family.
asserted
who → vanish → family
Crespo was a cocaine smuggler who later turned into a state witness and testified against a multimillion-dollar drug ring.
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who → turn → ring
All three are missing.
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three → miss → ?
Investigators also speculated if the homicide could be connected to Tony Spilotro, a notorious hitman for the Chicago Mafia in Las Vegas.
uncertain
homicide → speculate → Vegas
George Jay Vandermark, a slot machine worker at the Stardust, vanished in 1976 while being pursued by the Chicago Outfit crime family.
asserted
Vandermark → vanish → family
Pictured: FBI Missing Person bulletin Vandermark
Pappas, also known as Yiannis Panagiotakos, was a Greek‑American who managed the Stardust hotel and other Las Vegas casinos.
asserted
who → picture → hotel
And if they wanted somebody killed or murdered, he was the guy,' Detective Deborah Richard, a retired Las Vegas FBI agent, told ABC News
Similar remains were found in 1976 when mobster Johnny Roselli was found in a barrel in Dumfoundling Bay, Florida.
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Roselli → want → Bay
The incident occurred after he testified to the Senate that he was involved in CIA plots to kill Fidel Castro.
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he → occur → Castro
The Daily Mail has reached out for comment from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County Coroner's office for comments.
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Mail → reach → comments
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