One Set of Lake Mead Human Remains ID’d as Swimmer Who Drowned in 2002

A formerly submerged swim mask sits in a dry section Lake Mead on June 23 in Nevada. 

Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

One of the five sets of human remains recovered in Nevada’s drought-stricken Lake Mead this year has been identified using DNA analysis as a swimmer who went missing two decades ago.

Thomas P. Erndt, 42, drowned on Aug. 2, 2002, and his remains were found May 7, the National Park Service announced Thursday.