His friend reported that Windecker was quickly submerging with his respirator out of his mouth, and that he couldnt save him because he was forced to surface when he ran out of air. Pete Van Arnum recalled hearing tales of Mafia members dumping bodies in Lake Tahoe back in the 1950s."That may or may not be true, but we can't be sure because we can't go down that far," said Van Arnum, a member of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department and former coroner.What, or whom, Lake Tahoe holds in its average depth of 1,000 feet is a mystery, except for those who . Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Windeckers body was clad in a wetsuit and buckled into a weight belt and air tank. El Dorado County Sheriffs Lt. Bryan Golmitz added that there were no signs of trauma. There are tons of stories surrounding bodies in the lake, and I hate to say it, but there probably are a couple bodies at the bottom of the lake. ). Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Donald Christopher Windecker disappeared on July 10, 1994 after diving into the famously deep mountain lake, which plunges to a depth of about 1,645 feet. His companion tried to help, but began running out of air and had to surface. The one that sticks out for me is that in Truckee, they had brought in hundreds of Chinese immigrants to build the railroads. Global, Find a Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current. The name of Donald Christopher Windecker was released Monday by the El Dorado County sheriff's office. Just beyond the ledge where Windecker's body was found, the lake plunges to a depth of 1,645 feet.News reports at the time of Windecker's disappearance described him as a 44-year-old former city planner from Reno who set out for a dive on July 10, 1994. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Ousted Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot claims she was treated unfairly because she's 'a black woman in America' despite failing to stop soaring crime - as critics unleash and election heads to runoff, 'They told me anyone wearing Trump has to go now': Ron DeSantis book signing event in Florida turns ugly when security guard is ordered to boot pro-Donald supporters - as tension between Republican rivals escalates. Chinese immigrants in Truckee were targeted by the 601 vigilante group and the Caucasian League. U.S. Yearbooks Name Index, 1890-1979 DonaldWindecker1936 Donald Windecker, born Circa 1936 Donald Windeckerwas born circa 1936. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. 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Former Nevada state historian Guy Rocha wrote in 2006 in the Reno Gazette-Journal: "The truth is that Philippe Cousteau, Jacques' grandson, visited Lake Tahoe in April 2002, but there is no record of Jacques seeing the jewel of the Sierra, much less his being involved in an underwater expedition. Kai Ma is a TIME contributor. His remains are in amazing physical condition, said Sheriffs Sgt. When talking about the diver who drowned, he forgot to mention that the mayor who was busted for cocaine trafficking was also rumored to be involved in prostitution. El Dorado County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. He did not identify members of the group. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. A remote-controlled mini-submarine with a robotic claw. Donald was born in in Kingston, Jamaica. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Donald Christopher Windecker's body was recovered and identified this month 17 years after the Reno city planner died in a Tahoe diving accident. Play it now! 2023 www.dispatch.com. The bacteria produce gases as waste: carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide. Please try again later. Christopher Windecker is on Facebook. He never returned. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Some in the region insist that famed diver and naturalist Jacques Cousteau explored the lake in a mini-submarine in the mid-1970s and emerged pale and shaken. "They were wondering, 'What's this person doing down here?'". He never returned. Just remember, you do not recognize the bodies in the water. Donald Christopher Windecker's body was recovered and identified this month 17 years after the Reno city planner died in a Tahoe diving accident. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. ", Stephen Drew, retired chief curator for the California State Railroad Museum, says, "I don't believe there is any credence in the rumor you are trying to track down -- in fact, far from it. Although El Dorado County authorities say he had no close relatives, those who counted him as a friend are thankful this mystery has been resolved. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. The scuba gear bore a certification from 1994, sheriffs officials said. Antioch police seek help to ID woman who allegedly fired gun inside store, swiped liquor, Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims, Shes looking to get smoked; Messages reveal aggressive threats from suspect on morning of San Carlos beheading, Antioch council ends remote-meeting options for members and the public. The divers remains, still contained in a wetsuit and buckled with scuba gear and an air tank, were in amazing physical condition and remarkably preserved, Sheriffs Sgt. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. In 2011, the body of Donald Christopher Windecker was recovered from Lake Tahoe, found 350 feet underwater. His body was protected from marine life and subject only to the slow work of cold bacteria. All Marriage & Divorce results for Donald Windecker. Marriage & Divorce. Are YOU at risk of being cancelled? Death: 10 Jul 1994 United States of America. On Sept 10, 2011 Chris's ashes were returned to Rubicon Point. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. He never returned. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Jim Byers. All rights reserved. We never get an interesting case in the suburbs of south Orange County, meanwhile you got a fricking Loch Tess Monster. Failed to delete memorial. McLaughlin also finds this rumor preposterous. Crayfish don't like deep water. Besides, McLaughlin says, the mob was more focused in Southern Nevada and "it's easier to bury a body out in the desert, which precludes the risk of the body washing up on the shore.". In other words, if the railroad companies were killing off Chinese workers by the hundreds to avoid paying them, it's unlikely so many would still be working for them after construction was finished. Depending on who is telling the story, Cousteau either encountered a Loch Ness-type monster that locals have dubbed Tahoe Tessie or came upon a bunch of dead people. Ironic isn't it they just could have left him there when they found him. South lake tahoe local here! Windeckers body was discovered in 265 feet of water by a recreational diver in late July off Rubicon Point along Tahoes west shore. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Horror film legend Ricou Browning who starred as Gill-man in Creature from the Black Lagoon dies aged 93 from natural causes, What's your biggest turn off? The 700-year-old Coronation chair that has been used for the crowning of monarchs since the 14th century is getting a makeover ahead of Charles' big day, Atlanta's wealthiest suburb inches closer to secede from the crime-ridden city and could be up for a vote as soon as TODAY, Three Kansas City police officers are shot during standoff: 'We've been reminded too much lately how dangerous police work can be', Damage control? "Something like that you don't forget too soon.". When such stories happen, myths about bodies. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The name of Donald Christopher Windecker was released . News reports at the time of Windeckers disappearance described him as a 44-year-old former city planner from Reno who set out for a dive on July 10, 1994. Israel beefs up troops after unprecedented settler rampage, Ukrainian refugees in Poland will now be charged to stay in state-funded housing, This Colombian town is dimming its lights to attract more tourists to view the night sky, Kneel and apologize!: 76 years after island-wide massacre, Taiwan continues to commemorate and debate the tragedy. Donald Christopher Windecker's well-preserved body was found July 23 on an underwater shelf, 265 feet below the surface, The Los Angeles Times reports. Copyright 2023 IBTimes LLC. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Windecker reportedly suffered difficulty with his equipment and began to sink. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The divers went down to explore cliff walls, but found a person instead. The body of a scuba diver recovered from Lake Tahoe has been identified as a man who disappeared 17 years ago. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. The scuba gear bore a certification from 1994, officials with the El Dorado County Sheriffs Department said. Golmitz says its light shines about two to three feet wide. Although El Dorado County authorities say he had no close relatives, those who counted him as a friend are thankful this mystery has been resolved. Tracey Cox asks men the 9 sex questions women want HONEST answers to. "That was the last thing he did for (the child)," Ramos said. Others contend the watery grave contains card cheats and mobsters killed by the Mafia and anchored to the lake bottom by concrete-filled casino ice buckets, "wearing pinstriped suits, with sneers on their faces and bullet holes in their foreheads," as the San Francisco Chronicle put it in 2004.Tales persist that a "longtime Tahoe fire chief" responded to a drowning call and found the body of a well-preserved Native American girl, fully clothed in a 19th century ceremonial dress, floating in the lake.But Cousteau never explored the lake. The name of Donald Christopher Windecker was released today Make sure that the file is a photo. Is YOUR lifestyle good for your heart? Then there's the story of Chinese laborers. "If you've got Chinese working on the construction of your railroad up around Truckee near the pass, why take them all the way to Lake Tahoe?" His companion reportedly tried to help, but was forced to surface after he began running out of air. They were wondering, Whats this person doing down here? His companion tried to help but began running out of air and was forced to surface. Donald Christopher Windecker. To see more of the Los Angeles Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.latimes.com. They were wondering, Whats this person doing down here? Byers said. Lake Tahoe is on the California-Nevada border. Other persistent tales claim that those lurking below include the bodies of 19th century Chinese railroad laborers and mobsters, along with a lake monster named Tahoe Tessie.. He points out that the railroads were happy to pay the Chinese laborers because "they were a reliable workforce, so why alienate them? Think of a box of copier paper. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. A remote-controlled mini-submarine with a robotic claw brought the remains to the surface on July 27, and dental records were used to confirm Windecker's identity. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? But, very obviously he was deceased.. Conventional scuba divers have to stop at about 100 feet.Byers said those in the diving group were startled to see Windecker's motionless form. Tahoe is the second-deepest lake in the U.S., behind Oregon's Crater Lake, which has a maximum depth of 1949 feet. Copyright IBTimes 2023. News reports at the time of his disappearance described Windecker as a 44-year-old former city planner from Reno, Nev., who set out for a dive on July 10, 1994. Police reports say his partner reported Windecker appeared to have problems with his equipment and began to sink while the two were surfacing. Some say his grandson, Philippe Cousteau Jr., visited there, but only for a 2002 speaking engagement. Failed to report flower. Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. "He was an outgoing person. I mean I assumed stuff went down over there just based on The Godfather Part II movie, Tahoe was a big area for the first transcontinental railroad. Among those rumored to populate its depths are Chinese laborers who helped construct the railroad across the Sierra Nevada in the 1860s as well gamblers and mobsters killed by the Mafia. Dental records were used to identify Donald Christopher Windecker, from Reno,. The body of Donald Christopher Windecker was found by a deep diver wedged inside of a rock crevice in Lake Tahoe, near Rubicon Point, on July 24. Almost two decades later, an unidentified group of mixed-gas divers discovered Windeckers body while exploring cliff walls almost 300 feet below the surface. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Until now. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The recovery occurred on the lake's west side, near Rubicon Point.Officials delayed releasing Windecker's name until dental records confirmed his identity. Accompanied by a friend, Windecker planned to swim to a depth of about 100 feet. Try again later. Heres an example of an Ask the RGJ from 2011: Lake Tahoe has been a dumping ground for the bodies of Chinese railroad workers and victims of mob killings. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? Dental records were used to make positive identification. Conventional scuba divers have to stop at about 100 feet. Failed to remove flower. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks!". Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Join Facebook to connect with Christopher Windecker and others you may know. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Weve updated the security on the site. Although Windecker's body has been recovered, the Times reports that four other divers remain missing in the area of Lake Tahoe where he was found. He grew up in Jamaica and moved to the United States at the age of sixteen and settled in San Diego, California. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. All Rights Reserved. DonaldWindecker This was not the case with Windecker, who was covered head to toe in a wet suit with gloves and boots. Now for the two myths: Lake Tahoe is a dumping ground for victims of mob hits and Chinese workers. You can also continue the discussion on TIMEs Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME. The Reno Gazette-Journal reports the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said Monday the body of Donald Christopher Windecker, 44, a city planner in Reno, was pulled from the lake after a diver . This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Record information. Windecker was reported missing in July of 1994 when he was scuba diving in Lake Tahoe with a friend. Latest: OckhamsRazor22; 2 minutes ago; ", Other versions name the filmmaker as Jacques Cousteau, who is reported to have said "the world is not ready" for what is down there or, alternately, "a stop was quickly put on the mission by some powerful people.". 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