Shocking twist after cops say remains found in barrel by lake ‘linked to the MOB’ – and sinking waters could reveal more

SOME remains found in a barrel by a lake are reportedly linked to the mafia, presenting cops with a shocking twist in the investigation.

Now, sinking waters at Lake Mead, which is about 40 miles east of Las Vegas and borders and , could reveal even more revelations.

Las Vegas police confirmed human skeletal remains found in a metal barrel along ‘s receding shoreline were those of a man who was killed in the mid-1970s to early 80s.

The gruesome find by a group of people walking along the shoreline on May 1 was in part due to Mother Nature.

An ongoing drought in the area caused the lake’s waterline to recede exposing the barrel, according to Lieutenant Ray Spencer, speaking to the .

Shawna Hollister, a witness to the discovery told KLAS-TV, “my husband walked over and found the body. His shirt and belt were the only things we could see over his decomposing bones.”

Witnesses called the National Park Service, which responded and confirmed the remains were human.

Spencer says investigators believe the man died from a gunshot wound. He also told the Times that detectives will “definitely not rule out” that the victim’s death could have been Mafia-related.

The victim’s body was found in an area near Las Vegas, where casinos connected to the mob dominated the strip.

Police believe the death, being investigated as a homicide happened about four decades ago, based on the clothing and footwear the remains were found with.

Experts at the University of Nevada have been tasked with helping to identify the remains and determine the age of the metal on the barrel, according to Spencer.

While working on the story of the discovery of the first barrel, found a second barrel close by and alerted the police. It turned out to be empty.

If the drought persists and the lake waters continue to recede, Lt. Spencer said it is not unlikely that more bodies will be exposed. 

Spencer says due to the lack of DNA collection in the 1970s and 80s any DNA collected from the bones will likely require extensive genealogy work.