Cremated human remains found dumped in Nevada desert recovered, sparks probe
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Federal investigators are reportedly seeking answers after more than 300 piles of cremated human remains were found in the desert near Las Vegas.
The discovery was first reported in July when a local man came across the remains outside Searchlight, Nevada, about an hour south of Vegas. CLASSY reported.
By August, officials with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had confirmed that the piles were human.
Powdered bone fragments, known as “creams”, are said to have been found scattered across a desolate field on the outskirts of the city.
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Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries carefully removed approximately 315 piles of cremations from the desert site in Nevada. (Google Maps)
On Wednesday, crews from Palm Morgues and Cemeteries removed approximately 315 piles of cremains from the site, KLAS reported.
Celena DiLullo, president of Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries, explained how remains will be transferred to a cemetery crypt.
“I think it’s important for us to make sure these people aren’t forgotten and abandoned,” DiLullo told the news station. “It is important for our society and our profession to show how much we care about these people.”
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A local resident from Searchlight, Nev., reportedly came across the remains. (Washington Post via Dalton Bennett/Getty Images)
While BLM and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are reportedly continuing to investigate, the origin of the remains is unclear.
Initial reports suggested that the ashes may have been disposed of by a commercial funeral home business.
Under Nevada law, people are allowed to scatter ashes on public lands, and there is generally no prohibition against scattering cremated remains. But BLM regulations prohibit the commercial distribution of cremated remains on federal land.
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Under Nevada law, people can scatter ashes on public lands, but Bureau of Land Management rules prohibit commercial scattering of cremated remains on federal land. (Jungho Kim for Washington Post via Getty Images)
The desert area where the remains were found is on land managed by the BLM.
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As of now, authorities have reportedly not identified any suspects or confirmed whether the remains are linked to a specific morgue job.
Palm Morgues and Cemeteries, BLM and LVMPD did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
