A grisly discovery was made in Pahrump this past Wednesday when a body was found 15 feet underground inside what has been described as a "hand-dug home." The Nye County Sheriff's Office was alerted to the scene near Irene Street and Highway 160 after a civilian reported the finding to K9 deputies who were conducting training in the area, according to News 3LV.
The bystander, who stumbled upon the subterranean dwelling, said he found the body upon entering what he thought to be a cave or hole in the ground. Sheriff Joe McGill confirmed the presence of the underground structure, which he noted had two entrances and was situated about 15 feet below grade level. In a statement obtained by FOX5 Vegas, McGill said, "We are exercising all precautions to keep our deputies safe, so that they can go inside and recover the body."
The identity of the deceased has yet to be determined. Sheriff McGill informed KPVM that an autopsy is expected to be carried out in the upcoming weeks, which will hopefully provide a positive identification. Meanwhile, the sheriff's office has decided to "dispose of the location," as detailed by McGill, in order to preempt any potential safety hazards associated with the site, as per News 3LV.
Subsequent to the discovery, the underground home was destroyed for safety reasons. "The home has since been destroyed so it would not become a safety hazard," McGill told FOX5 Vegas. Officials are now focused on entering the space safely to recover and investigate the cause of death of the individual found within the confines of this curious and makeshift underground abode.
