A murder investigation has been initiated following the discovery of a man found ‘lying in a pool of blood’ at the renowned Burning Man festival.
Approximately 80,000 individuals gathered in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to engage in events centered around the Burning of the Man ceremony. This event features the burning of an 80-foot-tall effigy, creating a significant bonfire.
As the effigy was set ablaze on Saturday night (August 30), a deputy from the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a potential homicide.
The sheriff’s office released a statement saying, “On August 30, 2025, at approximately 9:14 p.m., while the ‘Man’ was beginning to burn, a Pershing County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was flagged down by an event participant who advised of a male subject lying in a pool of blood.
“Pershing County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Deputies and Bureau Land Management (BLM) Rangers immediately responded to the campsite and found a single white adult male lying on the ground, obviously deceased.
“PCSO Deputies, BLM Rangers and Burning Man Project Black Rock Rangers created a perimeter around the area, and PCSO and BLM began investigating the scene.”
The statement further mentioned, “The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Forensic Science Division, was called in to assist in processing the scene and collection of evidence. On site law enforcement interviewed several participants in the immediate area.
“This process is still ongoing and the portion of the ‘City’ where this occurred will have heavy law enforcement presence until the scene can be released.
“The identity of the decedent is unknown at this time, and he has been transported to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances.”
The statement also emphasized the importance of maintaining ‘the integrity of the complicated investigation of a crime in a city which will be gone by the middle of the week’ – referring to Black Rock City, which is temporarily constructed each year and then dismantled, returning the desert to its natural state.
The music and art festival spanned a week, starting from last Sunday (August 24) and wrapping up today (September 1).
Next year will commemorate 40 years since the first burning of a man effigy in the desert, which initially stood at just eight feet tall, a stark contrast to the monumental sculptures seen today.