The remains of a man found inside a metal drum at Lake Mead in Nevada, US, have been identified more than two years after their discovery.

According to the BBC, authorities identified the victim as Edward “Buddy” Lelburian Jackson, who was shot in the head and is believed to have died in the 1980s.

His remains were discovered in May 2022 after a severe drought caused water levels at Lake Mead, North America’s largest reservoir, to drop, exposing the corroded drum.

Investigators used genetic genealogy to identify Jackson by tracing his surviving relatives.

He was believed to have been in his mid-to-late 50s when he died and had lived in several states, including Arkansas, Utah and California.

Relatives described Jackson as a transient who frequently moved between places and rarely kept in touch, which investigators believe may explain why he was never reported missing.

Despite speculation that the killing was linked to organized crime, homicide detectives said current evidence did not point to mob involvement.

Jackson also had no known history of gambling or established connections to Las Vegas.

The falling water levels at Lake Mead have exposed human remains in several cases in recent years, prompting investigators to use techniques such as genetic genealogy and 3D skull reconstruction to identify victims.

Authorities are continuing to investigate Jackson’s killing and are seeking information that could help establish who killed him and why.