A federal investigation has been initiated after human remains were discovered in the Nevada desert.
On July 28, a passerby came across dozens of piles of cremated remains, along with zip ties and what seemed to be fragments of an urn, adding to the enigma.
Examination of the ashes confirmed they were human, officially termed ‘cremains’ by federal officials.
No identifying details were found with the ashes, which had been exposed to the weather conditions of rain and sun.
Photographs from the location reveal the cremains arranged in orderly piles despite being affected by the environment.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a federal agency, is collaborating with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to probe this grim discovery.
The remains were located on a dirt road near Searchlight, Nevada, a rural area about an hour’s drive south of the Las Vegas valley.
Although spreading ashes on federal land is not illegal, failing to treat the dead with dignity is a crime under Nevada law, as reported by 8 News Now.
This law mandates funeral operators to maintain the dignity of human remains.
The BLM manages vast areas of land in the United States, with one in ten acres under its jurisdiction.
A memo from 2011 by the BLM detailed that commercial entities, such as funeral homes, are barred from disposing of cremated human remains on BLM-managed land due to the volume of remains involved.
The memo stated: “Cremated remains are not considered a hazardous substance.
“However, the quantity of material associated with commercial distribution of cremated remains could preclude other land uses and may require designation and regulation of land as a functioning cemetery.
“This could require disposal of parcels of public land under appropriate authorities because the BLM does not manage functioning cemeteries.”
Even though commercial organizations are not allowed, the BLM clarified in the memo that individuals and families can request permission to scatter a loved one’s ashes on BLM land.
“Inquiries from individuals and families to scatter cremated remains should be handled on a case-by-case basis,” the memo stated.
In Nevada, there is no legal restriction against scattering ashes on publicly owned land.
According to 8 News Now, there is no link between the ashes and a recently closed funeral home.
Efforts to reach the Bureau of Land Management for a statement have been made.