Homicide Investigation Underway at Burning Man Festival

RENNES, Nev., Sept. 1, 2025 - A homicide investigation remains active at the annual Burning Man festival after authorities discovered the body of an unidentified man in a pool of blood late Saturday night as the iconic wooden effigy began to burn.

A festival attendee alerted the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 9:15 p.m. Saturday to the presence of a man lying motionless near the center of Black Rock City. Deputies, accompanied by Bureau of Land Management rangers and Black Rock Rangers, established a perimeter and found the victim, described as an adult white male, “obviously deceased” at the scene.

The victim’s identity has not yet been confirmed. His remains were transported to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, and no cause of death has been released. Law enforcement agencies, including the Washoe County Sheriff’s Forensic Science Division, continue to canvas the temporary city, interviewing attendees who were nearby when the effigy ignited.

Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen emphasized that the act “appears to be a singular crime” but cautioned festival-goers to remain vigilant. “All participants should always be aware of their surroundings and acquaintances,” he said in a press release.

Burning Man organizers have pledged full cooperation with investigators and urged attendees not to obstruct the ongoing investigation. Support services, including crisis response teams and free Wi-Fi stations at key plazas and Ranger HQ, remain available to participants requiring assistance or wishing to contact loved ones.

The festival, which began on August 24, is scheduled to conclude today. Despite the tragedy, officials stress that Black Rock City will maintain a significant law enforcement presence until the investigation site can be released and the temporary settlement is dismantled by midweek.

Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office at (775) 273-2641.