Federal Investigation of Desert Remains Near Las Vegas

A federal probe is underway concerning the dumping of over 300 human remains discovered in a desert area south of Las Vegas. This comes as a funeral home in Nevada begins the process of recovering the bodies.

The investigation was launched after an individual found a post-cremation body while exploring a mountain in the desert near Searchlight on July 28. Searchlight is a small community located roughly an hour south of Las Vegas off Highway 95.

In August, officials from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) confirmed that the remains were indeed human and stated that they are actively looking into the incident.

Nevada statute does not prohibit the scattering of ashes on public land, but it mandates that funeral directors maintain the “dignity” of any remains they manage. The BLM permits the scattering of cremated remains under certain guidelines; however, mass disposal such as this likely violates those rules.

This week, workers from Palm Mortuary and Cemetery extracted about 315 stakes, which officials believe originated from a commercial funeral home.

“It’s just so disheartening,” said Selena DiLullo, president of Recovery Funeral Home, reflecting on the situation.

Investigators and cemetery workers have struggled to find any identifying details regarding the remains. They also discovered zip ties typically used by crematoriums to seal bags of remains and fragments of broken urns around the site.

Dirulo mentioned that out of respect for those who have passed, the remains would be interred in a crypt within one of the cemeteries. Unfortunately, without identifying information, it’s nearly impossible to ascertain identities, even for one’s own loved ones.

“I often wonder if this was the way they wanted to be treated,” Dirulo shared. “It’s important for us to ensure they are remembered in a dignified manner, which is why we want to create a respectful resting place for them.”