More Than 300 Sets of Human Ashes Unearthed in Nevada Desert
More than 300 piles of human ashes have been discovered in a remote desert area outside Las Vegas, in what authorities are calling one of Nevada’s most disturbing cases of improper handling of human remains.
The discovery was made near the small town of Searchlight, about an hour from Las Vegas, on July 28. Investigators say the ashes no longer contain any identifiable information, leaving them unable to determine who they belonged to.
In August, investigators found pieces of cable ties commonly used by funeral homes to seal bags of ashes along with fragments of urns at the scene. It is believed that many of the remains may belong to residents of southern Nevada.
Funeral Home Steps In to Recover Ashes
Earlier this week, a recovery team from Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries arrived to collect the ashes from the desert site. The team recovered around 315 sets of human cremains, which have since been placed in separate urns.
The Bureau of Land Management confirmed in August that the piles were indeed human ashes and launched an active investigation. Authorities suspect that a funeral home may have been responsible for dumping the remains in the desert.
Although Nevada law allows individuals to scatter ashes on private land, commercial dumping is prohibited. Funeral homes are also legally required to maintain the dignity of human remains under their care, meaning the incident could amount to a federal violation.
Palm Mortuaries announced plans to inter the remains in a crypt at one of their cemeteries in southern Nevada, offering families the opportunity to identify their loved ones and pay their respects.
«These People Should Not Be Forgotten»
Celena DiLullo, president of Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries, said the company wanted to ensure the victims were remembered respectfully.
«I think it’s important to us to make sure these people are not forgotten and not left,» she said. «It’s important to our community and our profession that we show how much we care about these people. If this is not how they would want to be remembered, we just want to have a place for them to be.»
Several sources told that a recently closed funeral home may have been behind the mass dumping, though a representative for the unnamed business has denied involvement. Authorities have not yet identified the funeral home under investigation.
