Lake Mead Update: Drowned Woman Found and More Skeletal Remains Confirmed

The body of a woman has been found in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area this week, while a bone discovered in the reservoir is now being investigated as human remains.

The National Park Service received reports of a missing woman on October 15. The 39-year-old had last been seen in the back bay of Katherine Landing Marina on Lake Mohave, part of the Lake Mead recreation area.

The following day at 2:45 p.m., a body was found in Lake Mohave by dive teams. The woman, who has not been named, was not wearing a life jacket, according to the NPS. The death is being investigated as a drowning.

On October 17, CBS affiliate 8 News Now reported that a bone, found in the lake in July 2021, is thought to be a human femur. The family that discovered the bone were initially told it was from an animal. Mohave County Medical Examiner's Office is attempting to identify the remains.

Lake Mead, a huge manmade reservoir in Nevada and Arizona, has made headlines in recent months for a spate of grisly discoveries.

Receding water levels linked to drought have revealed multiple sets of human remains in the lake. While most belong to drowning victims, some are being investigated as potential homicides.

Remains found inside a barrel in May are thought to be from a mob-related murder. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating and has been contacted for comment.

Even before the water levels began dropping, Lake Mead was considered one of America's deadliest national parks. Since it was created in the 1930s, around 300 people have drowned in the reservoir. This figure is on top of any other bodies that may be in the lake but died from other causes.

Although the lake's blue waters are tempting to visitors, particularly in hot temperatures, it is vast and deep. Lake Mohave is 100 feet deep and covers around 28 surface acres, according to the National Park Service.

"Drownings are the No 1 cause of unintentional deaths at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Many of these could have been prevented if people were wearing life jackets," an park service spokesperson told Newsweek.

"It is easy to underestimate the seriousness of being around large bodies of deep water."

The spokesperson said the danger increased during the off-season, when the water was cold.

According to the National Weather Service, cold water can cause "cold shock"—dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Even for experienced swimmers, this can lead to difficulties staying afloat.

"In windy, stormy, or choppy water," the spokesperson added, "people can fall overboard and be knocked unconscious or inhale water from high waves."