Barrel corpse found – drought exposes mafia victims

The mafia ruled the casino metropolis of Las Vegas for half a century. She bribed politicians and police officers, made enemies disappear. And again and again the gangsters were spotted at a mysterious lake.

At that reservoir, Lake Mead (US state of Nevada), boaters have now made a spectacular find. They discovered a rusty barrel containing human remains – apparently exposed by the falling water level. The identity of the dead is still unclear.

Investigators believe in murder

Investigators assume that the person was murdered in the 1980s. It’s also likely that more bodies will be found in the lake given the drought, Police Chief Ray Spencer said. The cruel suspicion: The mafia used the lake as a mass grave!

 
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It supplies 25 million people with drinking waterPhoto: BRIDGET BENNET / REUTERS

Lake Mead is only a 45 minute drive from Las Vegas. At that time, the casino city was known as a hotbed of the Mafia. Gangster boss Anthony Spilotro, better known as “Tony the Ant” was involved in numerous contract killings in the 80s.


Mafia boss Anthony Spilotro (deceased 1986) made a name for himself as
Mafia boss Anthony Spilotro (deceased 1986) made a name for himself as “Tony the Ant” in Las VegasPhoto: Private


Lake Mead is east of Las Vegas on the Nevada-Arizona border
Lake Mead is east of Las Vegas on the Nevada-Arizona borderPhoto: BILD infographic

He himself was beaten up on June 14, 1986 and apparently buried alive in a cornfield. His death ushered in the end of the Mafia era in Vegas.


Stronghold of the gamblers - and the gambling mafia: Las Vegas
Stronghold of the gamblers – and the gambling mafia: Las VegasPhoto: PR

The investigation will now show whether the body was possibly one of his victims.

By Editor

Leave a Reply