On July 10, 1994, Donald Christopher Windecker set out for a dive in Lake Tahoe. Add to your scrapbook. They insist the tunnels are the result of volcanic activity. Thread starter ctaylor; Start date Aug 9, 2011; New Posts. Even if it was just three or four guys you didn't pay, that (news) would ripple through the workforce.". All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Windeckers body was clad in a wetsuit and buckled into a weight belt and air tank. Authorities at Lake Tahoe on Monday solved the mystery of a scuba diver who disappeared 17 years ago in the mountain lakes deep, frigid waters. Donald was born in in Kingston, Jamaica. 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. Windecker was reported missing in July of 1994 when he was scuba diving in Lake Tahoe with a friend. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. Were not investigating this as a homicide,Golmitz said. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. GREAT NEWS! DonaldWindecker In 2011, the body of Donald Christopher Windecker was recovered from Lake Tahoe, found 350 feet underwater. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. Donald Christopher Hinds (born: December 29, 1994 (1994-12-29) [age 28]), better known online as Young Don The Sauce God, is a Jamaican-American YouTuber and animator who currently resides in San Diego. His companion tried to help but began running out of air and was forced to surface. Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Really? The well-preserved body of Donald Christopher Windecker was discovered July 23 on an underwater shelf, 265 feet below the surface. It has been said that some independent filmmaker got ahold of some deep sea diving machine and found where all these people were at and went down to see for himself so he could film a documentary on it. In "The Godfather 2," a character is killed on Lake Tahoe and dumped overboard. Thanks for your help! The bacteria produce gases as waste: carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide. We have set your language to In 2011, Donald Christopher Windecker's body was recovered and identified after dying in a diving accident 17 years ago. A person who says he was born in Carson City and lived there his whole life writes, regarding the mob dumping bodies, "My grandparents lived in Tahoe for 30+ years, and Grandma would always say that back in Tahoe's hey day when the Rat Pack was running around there, the mafia they were connected to would do the same things to people they wanted to 'get rid of.'". Find her on Twitter at @Kai_Ma or on Google+. Donald Christopher Windeckerwas born on month day1949, at birth place, California. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. It was pretty scary for them. When all was said and done, they didn't want to have to deal with paying them and giving them promised citizenship so they took the immigrants out to the middle of the lake and tied them together in big groups and weighed them down and dumped them in. Copyright (c) 2011, Los Angeles Times Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Try again later. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, San Diego home sales fall to lowest level in 35 years, Structure of Manny Machados new contract leaves Padres room to add more big names, SDG&E kicks in $16 million of shareholder funds to help financially strapped customers, Padres notes: Good news on Juan Soto; Fernando Tatis Jr. looks ready; WBC exodus begins, Santee YMCAs upcoming no nudity policy part of broader trend toward privacy, leaders say, Padres notes: Joe Musgroves injury creates opportunity; Rougned Odor signs; Cole Hamels throws again, WCC Tournament a final chance for USD to piece things together following a finish to forget, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells announces bid for Congress, setting up fight with incumbent Sara Jacobs, Spring training recap: Juan Soto stays hot, Nick Martinez earns extra work in rain-shortened Padres win, Februarys athletes of the month include CIF hoops and soccer champs, standout grapplers. 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 . "We'll be able to do a thorough autopsy. based on information from your browser. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Failed to delete memorial. Record information. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Windecker reportedly experienced difficulty with his equipment and began to sink. Ironic isn't it they just could have left him there when they found him. "His remains are in amazing physical condition," El Dorado County Sheriff's Sgt. Maybe thats why everythings shrouded in mystery there. Hard to tell, but if hundreds of bodies are down there, no one has found them -- despite the huge money-making possibilities from such a historic find. This browser does not support getting your location. "So the rumor states that not only are there hundreds of people down there all tied together but they are perfectly preserved because of the cold temperatures. 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. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. 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? The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Learn more about managing a memorial . Windecker was reported missing in July of 1994 when he was scuba diving in the lake with a friend. Search above to list available cemeteries. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Specifically: His ashes spread over Lake Tahoe, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74652674/donald-christopher-windecker. Windeckers body was discovered by a group of mixed gas divers exploring cliff walls, Byers said. 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. Dental records confirmed it was Windecker. With a friend, he set out to explore the deep waters of Tahoe, but began to sinkalong with his equipmentas the pair started to ascend. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. Lake Tahoe is on the California-Nevada border. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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.Asked what he'd seen and filmed on the lake bottom, Cousteau reportedly replied, "The world isn't ready for what's down there. On July 10, 1994, Donald Christopher Windecker set out for a dive in Lake Tahoe. His friend tried to help, but then began running out of air and had to leave Windecker behind. At the time of his disappearance, Windecker was a 44-year-old former city planner from Reno and a married father of two young children. (via Los Angeles Times) At the time of his disappearance, Windecker was a 44-year-old. Just beyond the ledge where Windeckers body was found, the lake plunges to a depth of 1,645 feet. "Why not take them to Donner Lake, which is much closer? El Dorado County Sheriffs Lt. Bryan Golmitz added that there were no signs of trauma. 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. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Days after the July 23 sighting, a remote-controlled mini-submarine with a robotic claw pulled the scuba divers body from the underwater shelf on the lakes west side. Do not sell or share my personal information. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Donald Windecker (74652674)? Some Tahoe locals insist that bodies of boaters and swimmers who drowned in Lake Tahoe have turned up Pyramid Lake and vice versa. Fires were set, and the Chinese were told to leave on their own or they would be shipped out in boxcars. (via Los Angeles Times). I thought you might like to see a memorial for Donald Christopher Windecker I found on Findagrave.com. U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current. The surprising condition of the body is attributable to the 35-degree water and the increased pressure at the 265-foot depth, Byers said. At Lake Tahoe, a scuba diver's body is recovered after 17 yearsThe well-preserved remains of Donald Christopher Windecker are discovered on an underwater shelf. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 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.. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Try again later. Authorities at Lake Tahoe have identified the remains of a scuba diver who disappeared in the lake's waters 17 years ago. "They were wondering, 'What's this person doing down here?'". 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. ' he said. All rights reserved. It doesn't kill them, but they can't grow. "It's been a long time. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. View Source Share Save to Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Created by: Athena Try again. Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries. O. ID - 4 University of Idaho Students Murdered - Moscow # 28. Hopefully well determine what happened.. "They found Donald Christopher Windecker, though. TIL the water of Lake Tahoe is so cold that when the body of Donald Christopher Windecker was found 17 years after he went missing, it was preserved enough to conduct an autopsy and determine his cause of death. Donaldpassed away on month day1994, at age 44 at death place, California. The divers went down to explore cliff walls, but found a person instead. he asked. Is YOUR lifestyle good for your heart? The recovery occurred on the lakes west side, near Rubicon Point. Oops, something didn't work. The partner attempted to help him but was forced to the surface when he ran low on air. South lake tahoe local here! "We'll be able to do a thorough autopsy. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. I guess it's kind of surprising, especially after all these years," Vern Kloos, a Reno city planner, said. Donald Christopher Windecker's body was recovered and identified this month 17 years after the Reno city planner died in a Tahoe diving accident. Almost two decades later, an unidentified group of mixed-gas divers discovered Windeckers body while exploring cliff walls almost 300 feet below the surface. "Lava tube connections between Lake Tahoe and other lakes are an urban myth," Byers said.Other stories about oddities beneath Lake Tahoe have been debunked by experts. "He was an outgoing person. ", 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. Lava tube connections between Lake Tahoe and other lakes are an urban myth, Byers said. His mother's maiden name is Wilson. PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402. It's deep, it's cold, it's hard to recover a body from.". They were wondering, 'What's this person doing down here?'" He notes that during Frank Sinatra's time at Tahoe in the early 1960s, he and his associates were scrutinized closely by the authorities, making killings and body disposal risky. "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.Among those said to populate Lake Tahoe's dark depths are Chinese laborers who helped build the railroad across the Sierra Nevada in the 1860s. 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.". It was pretty scary for them. No comments have so far been submitted. 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. Windecker had died 17 years previously while scuba diving and due to the lake's cold. He did not identify members of the group. Make sure that the file is a photo. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The El Dorado County sheriffs office released the name Monday. Windecker reportedly suffered difficulty with his equipment and began to sink. Donald Christopher Windecker's body was recovered and identified this month 17 years after the Reno city planner died in a Tahoe diving accident. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Kai Ma is a TIME contributor. 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. 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. The well-preserved body of a man who disappeared while scuba diving in Lake Tahoe was recovered last month after spending 17 years on an underwater shelf in the lake's frigid waters. There is a problem with your email/password. "That was the last thing he did for (the child)," Ramos said. This account has been disabled. CARSON CITY, Nev. The body of a scuba diver recovered from Lake Tahoe has been identified as a man who disappeared 17 years 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.". The one that sticks out for me is that in Truckee, they had brought in hundreds of Chinese immigrants to build the railroads. Mr Windecker, who was 44 when he died, was a planner for the city of Reno. LOS ANGELES The body of a diver who disappeared 17 years ago in Lake Tahoes deep, frigid waters has been found, authorities in El Dorado County, Calif., confirmed yesterday. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Lake Tahoe expert and author Mark McLaughlin has his doubts. Accompanied by a friend,. Just beyond the ledge where Windeckers body was discovered, the lake plunges to a depth of 1,645 feet. In 2011, the body of Donald Christopher Windecker was recovered from Lake Tahoe, found 350 feet underwater. Just remember, you do not recognize the bodies in the water. 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. Jeff Rotman Scuba Diver's Body Discovered, 17 Years After His Disappearance. A remote-controlled mini-submarine with a robotic claw raised the remains July 27. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Is this railroad link the inspiration for the Tahoe tale of murder? Do you hate foreplay? Among those said to populate Lake Tahoes dark depths are Chinese laborers who helped build the railroad across the Sierra Nevada in the 1860s. By Kai Ma. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. When such stories happen, myths about bodies. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. "It was pretty scary for them," Byers said. Please reset your password. (via Los Angeles Times) Most Popular; From NewsFeed "His remains are in amazing physical condition," said Sheriff's Sgt. Join Facebook to connect with Christopher Windecker and others you may know. Sign up and stay up to date with our daily newsletter. Mixed-gas scuba divers can descend much deeper than conventional scuba divers without suffering nitrogen narcosis and other problems. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Jim Byers. He always had a positive attitude.". The body of a scuba diver recovered from Lake Tahoe has been identified as a man who disappeared 17 years ago. Are YOU at risk of being cancelled? Tracey Cox asks men the 9 sex questions women want HONEST answers to. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The freshwater mountain lake, located along the border of California and Nevada, has a storied legacyone that boasts theories about lava tubes and underwater tunnels that connect Tahoe to the nearby Pyramid Lake. Failed to remove flower. "All of our bodies have bacteria that live in them," she said. 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Nobody knows the name or affiliation of the supposed "longtime Tahoe fire chief. 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. Edit your search or learn more. or debate this issue live on our message boards. His companion tried to help, but began running out of air and had to surface. Drowned: Mr Windecker had problems with his equipment and began to sink while surfacing at Lake Tahoe 17 years ago. Just was out there this past summer visiting and had an amazing lunch at Sunnyside. Failed to report flower. 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. "When we die, our bodies stop breathing and the bacteria kick into gear breaking down our bodies. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Dental records were used to identify Donald Christopher Windecker, from Reno,. A remote-controlled mini-submarine with a robotic claw. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Try again later. Windecker reportedly experienced difficulty with his equipment and began to sink. Police reports say his partner reported Windecker appeared to have problems with his equipment and began to sink while the two were surfacing.