"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?" Add to your scrapbook. Toward the end of the dive, the Times reports, Windecker apparently had trouble with his equipment, and began to sink. 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. Authorities at Lake Tahoe have identified the remains of a scuba diver who disappeared in the lake's waters 17 years ago. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. His remains are in amazing physical condition, said Sheriffs Sgt. In cold water, the lower temperatures make them relatively inactive. Play it now! The divers went down to explore cliff walls, but found a person instead. Accompanied by a friend,. Copyright 2023 IBTimes LLC. Hopefully we'll determine what happened.". "We'll be able to do a thorough autopsy. A recent article talked about how fish eggs survived being eaten by ducks and hatched. The scuba gear bore a certification from 1994, officials with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department said. We never get an interesting case in the suburbs of south Orange County, meanwhile you got a fricking Loch Tess Monster. (via Los Angeles Times) Most Popular; From NewsFeed More:9 places you must eat and drink in North Lake Tahoe, More:Tahoe's historic Cal Neva Lodge set for renovation; old cabins torn down. Windecker had died 17 years previously while scuba diving and due to the lake's cold. 9 places you must eat and drink in North Lake Tahoe, Tahoe's historic Cal Neva Lodge set for renovation; old cabins torn down, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Drowned: Mr Windecker had problems with his equipment and began to sink while surfacing at Lake Tahoe 17 years ago. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? But McLaughlin has another reason for dismissing the rumor. To use this feature, use a newer browser. You learn something new every day; what did you learn today? By Rachel Quigley Updated: 21:37 EST, 8 August 2011. Do not sell or share my personal information. Please reset your password. ", 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Sgt. El Dorado County officials told the Times that Windecker had no close relatives, but Mike Ramos, who once worked with Windecker for the city of Reno, told the Gazette-Journal that Windecker had a wife and two small children, who have since moved out of state: Ramos said that the morning Windecker left to go diving, he left his son a candy bar and note thanking him for being a good boy. 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. They planned to dive to a depth of 100 feet, but something went wrong. Despite rescue attempts, the body was never found. Dental records were used to make positive identification. By Kai Ma. 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. 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. ). 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. he asked. I went to high school there and I remember it was commonly accepted that there were still Native Americans and pioneers still preserved in the lake. "They are anaerobic, meaning they thrive without oxygen. According to police reports, his partner said Windecker appeared to have problems with his equipment and began to sink while the two were surfacing. 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? 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. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Among those said to populate Lake Tahoes dark depths are Chinese laborers who helped build the railroad across the Sierra Nevada in the 1860s. Tracey Cox asks men the 9 sex questions women want HONEST answers to. They were wondering, Whats this person doing down here? Byers said. 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. He may have had a heart attack or a stroke or maybe just ran out of air. DonaldWindecker Specifically: His ashes spread over Lake Tahoe, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74652674/donald-christopher-windecker. In attendance was his widow, Mary Windecker, son, Marcus Windecker, daughter, Claire Windecker, brother & wife, John & Lane Windecker, sisters, Geri and Corey Windecker and several close family friends. Im Yvonne Beasley with the RGJ, and Im reviving our popular Ask the RGJ feature. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Please enter your email and password to sign in. 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. 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. A remote-controlled mini-submarine with a robotic claw. U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current. The well-preserved body of Donald Christopher Windecker was discovered July?23 on an underwater shelf 265 feet below the surface. 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. 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. Can you control your erections? You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. The World is a public radio program that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter. Are you saying those bodies could be in the lake in relation to his cocaine trafficking? ", 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.". or debate this issue live on our message boards. The well-preserved body of Donald Christopher Windecker was discovered July 23 on an underwater shelf, 265 feet below the surface. "When we die, our bodies stop breathing and the bacteria kick into gear breaking down our bodies. 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. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. he said. The one that sticks out for me is that in Truckee, they had brought in hundreds of Chinese immigrants to build the railroads. ", 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. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. He grew up in Jamaica and moved to the United States at the age of sixteen and settled in San Diego, California. Until now. Jim Byers. Almost two decades later, an unidentified group of mixed-gas divers discovered Windeckers body while exploring cliff walls almost 300 feet below the surface. There was a problem getting your location. Fires were set, and the Chinese were told to leave on their own or they would be shipped out in boxcars. 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. "Something like that you don't forget too soon.". Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com, or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544), Divers body found in Tahoe after 17 years, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). Nobody knows the name or affiliation of the supposed longtime Tahoe fire chief.. Name: "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. Dental records were used to make positive identification. When such stories happen, myths about bodies. Thanks for your help! The crawfish immediately went to the deepest coldest parts of the lake, and crawfish will eat anything. At least, there was until people introduced kokanee salmon to the rivers, and then crawfish as a food source. Some say his grandson, Philippe Cousteau Jr., visited there, but only for a 2002 speaking engagement. I'm more a North Lake guy, but have spent a lot of time in Tahoe while living in Reno for a decade or so. Well be able to do a thorough autopsy. Best quality coke is made from crawfish. He did not identify members of the group. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. CARSON CITY, Nev. The body of a scuba diver recovered from Lake Tahoe has been identified as a man who disappeared 17 years ago. All rights reserved. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. Two points apply for our purposes: Bodies in Tahoe tend not to float but they do not stay preserved and are eventually broken down by their own bacteria as well as by marine organisms. Christopher Windecker is on Facebook. Sorry! We are no longer accepting comments on this article. O. ID - 4 University of Idaho Students Murdered - Moscow # 28. El Dorado County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. He said Tahoe killings could be possible but no one has come forward with even basic details that could be investigated, such as who was killed. FOLLOW MORE IBT NEWS ON THE BELOW CHANNELS, IBT Fast Start - Let the best of International News come to you. GREAT NEWS! Lake Tahoe expert and author Mark McLaughlin has his doubts. Is this railroad link the inspiration for the Tahoe tale of murder? Balenciaga posts job listing for new VP of Communications with a special emphasis on crisis communications after backlash over THOSE ads, Inside the forest palace 'Putin shares with his gymnast lover and their secret children': Luxury estate features huge spa, 28-hectate park and separate mansion for 'uncrowned queen of Russia', investigation claims, Ukraine 'hits major Russian air base in fresh strike' a day after kamikaze drone crashed down just 68 miles from the Kremlin, How did Russia lose HALF of its 45,000 elite paratroopers in just seven months? We have set your language to Jennifer Hollander explains why they often don't float. Nobody knows the name or affiliation of the supposed "longtime Tahoe fire chief. 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. Some Tahoe locals claim dozens of bodies can be found in the lakes deep waters. He did not identify members of the group.The surprising condition of the body is attributable to the 35-degree water and the increased pressure at the 265-foot depth, Byers said.He dismissed speculation that Windecker had gone undiscovered for so long because his body had been caught in underwater tunnels that legend says connects Lake Tahoe with Pyramid Lake northeast of Reno.Some Tahoe locals insist that bodies of boaters and swimmers who drowned in Lake Tahoe have turned up Pyramid Lake and vice versa. Perhaps it was ducks that moved the kokanee salmon to the rivers there probably are a couple bodies at the bottom of the lake. Hello! 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. And authorities say they have used sonar and mini-subs to map the lakes bottom and never found such a graveyard. "They were wondering, 'What's this person doing down here?'". Hopefully we'll determine what happened. Failed to report flower. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. This is a carousel with slides. 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. Just remember, you do not recognize the bodies in the water. 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. 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. Windecker's whole body was still in his wetsuit and boots when he was found, thus providing more evidence for how long bodies can be preserved down there. 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 . Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Include gps location with grave photos where possible. It's deep, it's cold, it's hard to recover a body from.". So it's really a story about hooker, line and sinker. Do you hate foreplay? The El Dorado County sheriffs office released the name Monday. Donald was born in in Kingston, Jamaica. Drag images here or select from your computer for Donald Christopher Windecker memorial. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Dental records were used to identify Donald Christopher Windecker, from Reno,. Many of these stories have been debunked, but Byers admits that Windeckers discovery is a chilling Tahoe tale. 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. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Copyright IBTimes 2023. Submit interesting and specific facts about something that you just found out here. Mr Windecker's body was discovered in 265 feet of water by a recreational diver in late July off Rubicon Point along Tahoe's west shore. 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. Whats this person doing down here? ' '' a thorough autopsy maybe just ran out of air Windecker... On this article Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE do. His doubts such a graveyard and moved to the United States at the age of sixteen and settled San. To build the railroad across the Sierra Nevada in the lake in relation to donald christopher windecker wiki trafficking. 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