SECRETS OF THE LAKE
A drought is revealing some gruesome finds from Las Vegas’ dark past
The secrets started to be uncovered in May. It began with the discovery of a body in a rusty barrel, nestled among the red rocks and purple mountains of Lake Mead in Nevada.
Six days later, more remains were found. This time among the sandy shores of Callville Bay, 13 kilometres across the lake.
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the US, straddling the Nevada-arizona border. The water level has been dropping steadily for 20 years, due to drought.
Although Las Vegas doesn’t shy away from its sordid past, these recent findings are unearthing startling events and their victims that could have been lost forever.
It’s a reminder of Sin City’s dark days of organised crime, when the glitter strip was dominated by mob-backed casinos.
MURDER, MYSTERY & MAFIA
Experts say some of the bodies recently revealed by the drying out lake have the markings of gangland hits. It’s believed the body in the barrel could be one of three victims – George “Jay” Vandermark, William Crespo or Johnny Pappas.
The three men, who disappeared around the same time in the mid-’70s, each held links to the same powerful Las Vegas mob front company Argent Corp. Their bodies have never been found.
Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits at the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas, says it’s an “intriguing story”.
“The late 1970s and early 1980s were a very active time for organised crime in Las Vegas. There was a lot of violence, and a number of individuals linked to the mob went missing for various reasons,” Geoff tells Woman’s Day.
“Historically, there are many cases of murder victims being stuffed into barrels. We don’t know why this method of disposal has been popular among killers, but there are many cases we’ve found over the years,” Geoff reveals.
While the museum doesn’t have any particular insight into the ongoing police investigation, they say they are just as keen to know how this new historical puzzle piece fits into the larger history of organised crime in Sin City.
“If there’s a mystery to be solved, we and our guests are interested in seeing how it plays out,” he says.
Geoff believes Johnny Pappas is the most likely person to be the body in the barrel.
“Mr Pappas was employed by a company that served as a front for the Chicago mob in Las Vegas, and his job was linked to Lake Mead.”
The likely killer is thought to be notorious mob enforcer Tony Spilotro, who’s also considered a suspect in about 20 mob-related murders from the 1970s. He died in 1986. Spilotro was brought back to life as the fictional Nicky Santoro, played by Joe Pesci, in the 1995 classic mob movie Casino.
WAR RELICS RESURFACE
Once-sunken boats and WWII-ERA vessels are now resurfacing from the muddy depths of Lake Mead.
With the lake now at only about 30 per cent of its capacity, forensic anthropologist Jennifer Byrnes says there’s likely to be more bodies found, too, unless rain comes.
“I would expect [more] human remains of missing persons will probably be revealed over time as the water level continues to recede,” Ms Byrnes has said.
It’s thought other 1940s artifacts might surface, including a B-29 bomber plane that once surveyed the lake.
But for now, the eerie boat graveyard stands silent, with masts hilted in the air, their hulls baking in the desert sun. Lost objects litter the cracked mud surrounding the forgotten watercrafts, including a small, encrusted teddy bear, who stares spookily at anyone who may be lurking close by.
‘There are many cases of murder victims stuffed into barrels’