Burning Man Attendee Found Dead; Death Ruled a Homicide
BLACK ROCK CITY, Nev. – A homicide investigation is underway following the discovery of a deceased man at the Burning Man festival on Saturday, August 31, 2024. The Bureau of Land Management personnel located the body at a campsite, according to the Pershing County Sheriff’s office.
The identity of the man is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and completion of an autopsy by the Washoe County regional medical examiner’s office.
Sheriff Jerry Allen stated in a news release, “Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances.”
The Burning Man Project, the nonprofit institution that hosts the annual event, confirmed its cooperation with law enforcement and noted the availability of peer support counselors on site.
This death marks the third fatality at burning Man in the past three years. In 2023,Leon Reece of Truckee died after being found unresponsive,with a preliminary investigation suggesting drug intoxication. Last year,Kendra Frazer,39,died in her sleep after suffering an asthma attack. Prior incidents include a man running into the Burning Man fire in 2018, two women struck by vehicles in 2014 and 2003, and a plane crash in 2003.
Despite the tragic news, this year’s festival also saw a rare moment of joy when a 36-year-old woman unexpectedly gave birth to a baby girl, Aurora, on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, with the assistance of medical professionals among the attendees.
Burning Man draws tens of thousands of people annually to a remote location 120 miles north of Reno, Nevada, for a nine-day celebration centered on “community, art, self-expression and self-reliance.”