Byers said those in the diving group were startled to see Windeckers motionless form. Copyright (c) 2011, Los Angeles Times Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. The body was located 265' (80 meters) below the surface. Please enter your email and password to sign in. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Find her on Twitter at @Kai_Ma or on Google+. 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. Some say his grandson, Philippe Cousteau Jr., visited there, but only for a 2002 speaking engagement. Lake Tahoe is on the California-Nevada border. Perhaps it was ducks that moved the kokanee salmon to the rivers there probably are a couple bodies at the bottom of the lake. Almost two decades later, an unidentified group of mixed-gas divers discovered Windeckers body while exploring cliff walls almost 300 feet below the surface. He never returned. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States and the tenth deepest in the world, with a maximum depth measured at 1,645 feet. Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries. Ironic isn't it they just could have left him there when they found him. Jacques Cousteau went on a dive there and allegedly said the world isnt ready for whats down there., The main theory is that Pacific Union (the company that built the railroad) dumped the bodies of all the Chinese workers in the lake and Cousteau found the mass grave preserved by the cold, the pressure, and the low oxygen. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. (via Los Angeles Times) At the time of his disappearance, Windecker was a 44-year-old. Year should not be greater than current year. McLaughlin also finds this rumor preposterous. He never returned. But Cousteau never explored the lake. Dental records were used to identify Donald Christopher Windecker, from Reno, who was reported missing in July 1994 when he was diving with a friend at the lake. You learn something new every day; what did you learn today? A remote-controlled mini-submarine with a robotic claw. 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. View Chris Windecker results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Jeff Rotman Scuba Diver's Body Discovered, 17 Years After His Disappearance. His mother's maiden name is Wilson. Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Accompanied by a friend, he set out for a dive on July 10, 1994, and never returned.By Bob Pool, Los Angeles TimesAugust 9, 2011Authorities at Lake Tahoe on Monday solved the mystery of a scuba diver who disappeared 17 years ago in the mountain lake's deep, frigid waters.The well-preserved body of Donald Christopher Windecker was discovered July 23 on an underwater shelf, 265 feet below the surface. 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. ", Email yourquestions for "Ask the RGJ" by emailing ybeasley@rgj.com, Something else that can break down dead bodies in Lake Tahoe is marine life, which brings to mind the not-tasteful quote from the book "Animal Crossing -- Wild World": "Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. 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. Kai Ma is a TIME contributor. "His remains are in amazing physical condition," El Dorado County Sheriff's Sgt. They were wondering, Whats this person doing down here? IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Were not investigating this as a homicide, Giant Woman Sculpture Makes Waves in GermanLake, 13-Year-Old Girl Finds Porn On New Cell Phone, These Are North Koreas 28 State-Approved Hairstyles, Mountain Dews Dub the Dew Online Poll Goes Horribly Wrong. Friends and former colleagues of Windecker told The Reno Gazette-Journal they were surprised he'd been found. ", 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. 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 . Oops, we were unable to send the email. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. The bacteria produce gases as waste: carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide. In "The Godfather 2," a character is killed on Lake Tahoe and dumped overboard. All Rights Reserved. "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. He grew up in Jamaica and moved to the United States at the age of sixteen and settled in San Diego, California. The divers went down to explore cliff walls, but found a person instead. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. he asked. Windecker was accompanied by a. Four more divers remain missing in the same area, which is infamous for swallowing up victims. 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. Really? 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.". The Taliban silenced him. "They are anaerobic, meaning they thrive without oxygen. And then they introduced salmon and crawfish toclean up the damage? We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Marriage & Divorce. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? Christopher Windecker is on Facebook. His companion reportedly tried to help, but was forced to surface after he began running out of air. El Dorado County Sheriffs Lt. Bryan Golmitz added that there were no signs of trauma. All rights reserved. Other stories about oddities beneath Lake Tahoe have been debunked by experts. Its a little spooky., MORE: Giant Woman Sculpture Makes Waves in GermanLake. Windeckers body was clad in a wetsuit and buckled into a weight belt and air tank. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. Add to your scrapbook. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? On July 10, 1994, Donald Christopher Windecker set out for a dive in Lake Tahoe. DonaldWindecker By Kai Ma. Jim Byers told the Los Angeles Times that Windecker's body was found in such good condition that authorities will be able to conduct an autopsy on his remains. The World is a public radio program that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. The crawfish immediately went to the deepest coldest parts of the lake, and crawfish will eat anything. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. He always had a positive attitude.". "That was the last thing he did for (the child)," Ramos said. Officials delayed releasing Windeckers name until dental records confirmed his identity. Copyright IBTimes 2023. Among those said to populate Lake Tahoes dark depths are Chinese laborers who helped build the railroad across the Sierra Nevada in the 1860s. Lava tube connections between Lake Tahoe and other lakes are an urban myth, Byers said. 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. 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 . Reputation management expert reveals why it doesn't just happen to famous people - and how your social media posts put you at risk, Air in East Palestine IS toxic: Scientists find 'higher than normal' concentrations of NINE potentially harmful chemicals - despite EPA ruling train derailment zone was 'safe', King Charles told Harry and Meghan 'he was evicting them from Frogmore Cottage days after duke's memoir Spare came out, leaving them without a home in the UK and he has offered the property on the Windsor estate to Prince Andrew', 'Freedom, happiness, clarity, space, love': Prince Harry describes his life in five words and reveals he 'wants to be an elephant when he's reincarnated' in unseen footage from US TV interview to plug his book, The best seat in the house! Birth: 19 Dec 1949 Tulare County, California, United States of America. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 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. Accompanied by a friend, Windecker planned to swim to a depth of about 100 feet. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Woman with tuberculosis to be arrested this Friday and drugged against her will after refusing treatment for a year - so is it government overreach or fair enough? People forget that our mayor back in the 80s was busted for cocaine trafficking. 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. Failed to delete memorial. U.S. Yearbooks Name Index, 1890-1979 DonaldWindecker1936 Donald Windecker, born Circa 1936 Donald Windeckerwas born circa 1936. Try again later. Donaldpassed away on month day1994, at age 44 at death place, California. It doesn't appear in any feeds, and anyone with a direct link to it will see a message like this one. Edit Search New Search Filters (1) To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Locationeven a guess will help. Windecker's body was reportedly still donning a wetsuit and was buckled into his scuba gear and air tank. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. People forget Northeast California exists, too. Despite rescue attempts, the body was never found. Some say his grandson, Philippe Cousteau Jr., visited there, but only for a 2002 speaking engagement. Thanks for your help! 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.'". Tracey Cox asks men the 9 sex questions women want HONEST answers to. Authorities at Lake Tahoe have identified the remains of a scuba diver who disappeared in the lake's waters 17 years ago. 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. They planned to dive to a depth of 100 feet, but something went wrong. PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. O. ID - 4 University of Idaho Students Murdered - Moscow # 28. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? So it's really a story about hooker, line and sinker. 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. "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. It's called putrefaction. It was pretty scary for them. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Dental records were used to identify Donald Christopher Windecker, from Reno, who was reported missing in July 1994 when he was diving with a friend at the lake. And authorities say they have used sonar and mini-subs to map the lake's bottom and never found such a graveyard. South lake tahoe local here! The well-preserved body of Donald Christopher Windecker was discovered July?23 on an underwater shelf 265 feet below the surface. or debate this issue live on our message boards. Jim Byers said. Failed to report flower. Are you saying those bodies could be in the lake in relation to his cocaine trafficking? This was not the case with Windecker, who was covered head to toe in a wet suit with gloves and boots. They often relate to the facts that dead bodies tend not to float there and, because of the cold temperatures, they stay preserved longer. Learn more about merges. Is this railroad link the inspiration for the Tahoe tale of murder? All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. It was pretty scary for them. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Search above to list available cemeteries. 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. Just was out there this past summer visiting and had an amazing lunch at Sunnyside. Edited from the Snopes forum: "My whole life, I have heard rumors that there are a lot of human bodies that have been dumped in Lake Tahoe. Sgt. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Created by: No Guts, No Glory Added: 9 Aug 2011 Find a Grave Memorial ID: 74652674 Crayfish don't like deep water. Are YOU at risk of being cancelled? To use this feature, use a newer browser. 2023 www.dispatch.com. 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In 2011, the body of Donald Christopher Windecker was recovered from Lake Tahoe, found 350 feet underwater. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. According to police reports, his partner said Windecker appeared to have problems with his equipment and began to sink while the two were surfacing. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Dental records confirmed it was Windecker. Failed to remove flower. Some Tahoe locals insist that bodies of boaters and swimmers who drowned in Lake Tahoe have turned up Pyramid Lake and vice versa. Windecker reportedly experienced difficulty with his equipment and began to sink. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. Jim Byers told Reuters. Golmitz says its light shines about two to three feet wide. "They were wondering, 'What's this person doing down here?'". Then there's the story of Chinese laborers. Windecker was first reported missing in July 1994 when he was scuba diving in Lake Tahoe with a friend, said sheriff's Lt. Bryan Golmitz. 17 years went by before a group of "mixed gas" divers, who can safely dive to about 350 feet, discovered Windecker's body. 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. When such stories happen, myths about bodies. His companion tried to help but began running out of air and was forced to surface. The well-preserved body of Donald Christopher Windecker was discovered July 23 on an underwater shelf, 265 feet below the surface.
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