Edward Lelburian Jackson

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (NV)

Offense Location:

Clark, Nevada

Summary:

Edward 'Buddy' Lelburian Jackson was an Arkansas native in his mid-to-late 50s who was shot once in the head and placed in a 50-gallon barrel that was submerged in Lake Mead. His remains were discovered on May 1, 2022, when receding water levels exposed the barrel. He was identified on October 15, 2026, through DNA and forensic genealogy analysis.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

Edward Lelburian Jackson's body was found in a corroded 50-gallon barrel near Hemenway Harbor at Lake Mead on May 1, 2022. Boaters discovered the barrel in shallow water as the lake's water level receded during a severe drought. Jackson had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. The clothing found with his remains—including a button-down Idletime short-sleeve shirt, blue jeans with a Sasson-style pocket design, and blue-and-white Kmart Trax tennis shoes—was consistent with styles from the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Additional Details:

Jackson was originally from Arkansas with family ties to the Hot Springs area. He lived in the Los Angeles area with his wife in the early 1970s. Jackson had a brief criminal history in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the early 1980s involving aggravated arson and conspiracy to commit fraud. Family members last saw him visiting relatives in Arkansas in the early 1980s. After he moved to California, investigators lost track of him. Jackson was married for a short time with no known children. Investigators determined Jackson traveled widely around the country but found no ties to Las Vegas. The barrel may have been submerged in Lake Mead for nearly 40 years. Initial identification efforts began in September 2022 when the FBI created a composite face released to the public in 2023. Jackson's DNA was not in any database. After an initial genealogy lead proved insufficient, Oklahoma State University's Forensic Sciences Department continued the identification work. In early 2026, OSU obtained a strong match when a DNA sample from a possible relative was confirmed to match Jackson. The investigation remains open. Investigators have explicitly stated they found no evidence supporting speculation that the killing was connected to organized crime.

Case Last Updated:

Oct 16, 2026