Dillon Bracken attends the Burning Man 2014 "Caravansary" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, August 30, 2014. Over 65,000 people from all over the world have gathered at the sold out festival to spend a week in the remote desert cut off from much of the outside world to experience art, music and the unique community that develops. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart (UNITED STATES - Tags: SOCIETY) FOR USE WITH BURNING MAN RELATED REPORTING ONLY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS
UPDATE: A shocking homicide investigation has turned the final days of Burning Man into a crime scene as authorities confirm a man was found dead “lying in a pool of blood” on Saturday night in Nevada. The grim discovery was made at approximately 9:14 p.m., coinciding with the festival’s iconic wooden “Man” effigy burn, according to the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim, an unidentified white adult male, was located by a fellow festival attendee who immediately alerted law enforcement. Sheriff Jerry Allen confirmed that deputies and local rangers swiftly secured the area while the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office forensic team commenced evidence collection.
This tragic incident underscores the darker side of Burning Man, which has transformed from a countercultural gathering into a nexus for Silicon Valley’s elite. High-profile figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos have all made the trek to the festival, with Musk declaring, “Burning Man is Silicon Valley.” Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have been longstanding attendees, famously inspiring the first Google Doodle on August 30, 1998, to inform users they were out at Burning Man.
This homicide marks a grim addition to Burning Man’s history, which has seen numerous bizarre incidents over its 38-year history. Previous fatalities include a man who died in a burning effigy in 2017 and various accidents involving vehicles. In a striking contrast, just last week, a baby named Aurora was born at the festival to parents unaware they were expecting.
Sheriff Allen emphasized the complexity of the investigation, noting, “It’s a complicated investigation of a crime in a city which will be gone by the middle of the week.” As the festival is set to conclude on Monday, authorities may need to consider extending the timeline or imposing restrictions on the exit of the 70,000 attendees to preserve the crime scene and conduct necessary interviews.
The sheriff’s office has urged festival-goers to remain alert, stating, “Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances.” As the temporary desert metropolis prepares for its annual dismantling, the pressure mounts on law enforcement to ensure a thorough investigation amidst the chaos of the festival’s conclusion.
As developments unfold, attendees and the broader public are left in shock, grappling with the implications of a crime at a celebration known for its creativity and community spirit. Stay tuned for updates as this urgent investigation continues.
