Burning Man attendee found dead, police investigate as homicide

The male victim was found dead at about 9:30 p.m. – at about the same time the giant "Man" effigy in the middle of the venue was starting to burn.

By Joseph Weber

Published: September 1, 2025 1:45pm

Nevada police are investigating as a homicide the death Saturday of an attendee of the Bruning Man festival who was reportedly found in a "pool of blood."

The male victim was found dead at about 9:30 p.m. – at about the same time that the giant "Man" effigy in the middle of the venue was starting to burn. The event, held on the second-to-last night of the gathering, which gives the annual arts and music festival its name, according to CBS News.

The incident is being investigated by Nevada's Pershing County Sheriff's Office.

The festival is held in Black Rock Desert, a dried lake bed in a remote area of northwestern Nevada, about 150 miles from Reno.