A homicide investigation has shaken the closing days of Burning Man after a man was found dead “lying in a pool of blood” Saturday night, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. The discovery came around 9:14 p.m., just as the festival’s signature wooden effigy was set ablaze in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.
The victim, described only as a white adult male whose identity remains unknown, was discovered by a participant who quickly alerted a deputy. Sheriff Jerry Allen said deputies, Bureau of Land Management rangers, and local rangers secured the perimeter, while forensic experts from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office collected evidence at the scene.
The homicide underscores the unusual history of the festival, which has long since evolved from its countercultural roots into a hotspot for Silicon Valley elites. Elon Musk once called Burning Man “Silicon Valley,” while Mark Zuckerberg famously arrived by helicopter to serve grilled cheese sandwiches. Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are among the festival’s most loyal attendees, their 1998 trip even inspired the first Google Doodle to inform users they were away at Burning Man.
The case adds to a troubling list of tragedies in the festival’s 38 year history. In 2017, a man died after leaping into the burning effigy, and previous years have seen deaths from vehicle accidents and crashes. Just last week, a baby named Aurora was born unexpectedly at the event, adding another bizarre chapter to Burning Man lore.
Sheriff Allen warned that the investigation is particularly challenging given the temporary nature of the city. “It’s a complicated investigation of a crime in a city which will be gone by the middle of the week,” he said. With more than 70,000 attendees expected to depart as the festival ends Monday, officials may need to extend timelines or limit departures to preserve evidence and gather witness accounts.
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The sheriff’s office emphasized that while the act “appears to be a singular crime,” participants should remain alert as authorities work to piece together what happened in the desert.
