The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Institute of Justice’s National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), has positively identified a man who died in June 1999.
James Bailey, 28 at the time of his death, was identified by fingerprint comparison earlier this week. Bailey’s body was discovered in the Truckee River near Larkin Circle in Sparks on June 15, 1999. A complete autopsy was performed at the time, and his cause of death was drowning. His next of kin have been notified and are now able to claim his remains.
Washoe County Chief Medical Examiner and Coroner Dr. Laura D. Knight commented that: “Mr. Bailey’s case was entered into NamUs nearly 23 years ago and we are gratified that we have been able to identify him and provide his family with closure.”
The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office investigates cases of sudden, unexpected, natural, and suspicious death. State and County laws mandate that certain categories of sudden death be reported to and investigated by this office. The department also provides full postmortem examination services and assistance with death investigations to 19 counties within Nevada and Northern California. Learn more here.
