Federal officials confirmed Wednesday they are investigating the discovery of multiple piles of cremated human remains in the Nevada desert, a bizarre finding that has sparked questions about how the remains got there and who is responsible.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said the ashes were located on public land outside of Searchlight, a small town about 50 miles south of Las Vegas, according to The Associated Press.
The investigation was launched after Las Vegas CBS affiliate 8 News Now reported that as many as 70 separate piles of ashes were found along a remote dirt road in the rugged desert landscape.
The station obtained photos showing small gray piles scattered near cacti, with the desert hills looming in the background.
In a statement, the BLM confirmed that it is actively investigating the site in coordination with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. However, the agency declined to release further details about the number of ash piles or potential origins.
“The remains were found on public lands outside of Searchlight,” the BLM said in an emailed response to inquiries.
When contacted, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department referred all questions to the BLM, signaling the investigation is being led at the federal level.
While the discovery has shocked some local residents, there appears to be no state law in Nevada that prohibits the scattering of cremated remains on public lands.
However, BLM policy does allow private individuals to scatter ashes under certain guidelines—but prohibits commercial funeral homes from conducting such activity without permits or authorization.
That policy is now coming under scrutiny as the volume of remains and the manner in which they were deposited raise questions about whether commercial entities may have violated federal land-use rules.
The investigation remains ongoing, and neither local nor federal officials have disclosed whether any suspects or funeral providers are currently under review.
As of Wednesday, no criminal charges had been filed in connection with the case.
