Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. (via Los Angeles Times) At the time of his disappearance, Windecker was a 44-year-old. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. "We'll be able to do a thorough autopsy. ", Email yourquestions for "Ask the RGJ" by emailing [email protected], 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. Please try again later. They insist the tunnels are the result of volcanic activity. Find her on Twitter at @Kai_Ma or on Google+. Windeckers body was discovered by a group of mixed gas divers exploring cliff walls, Byers said. And authorities say they have used sonar and mini-subs to map the lakes bottom and never found such a graveyard. Some Tahoe locals claim dozens of bodies can be found in the lakes deep waters. 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. He may have had a heart attack or a stroke or maybe just ran out of air. And authorities say they have used sonar and mini-subs to map the lake's bottom and never found such a graveyard. "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?" 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. 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. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Sgt. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Please reset your password. 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To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. "We'll be able to do a thorough autopsy. All Rights Reserved. He always had a positive attitude.". His companion tried to help but began running out of air and was forced to surface. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. FOLLOW MORE IBT NEWS ON THE BELOW CHANNELS, IBT Fast Start - Let the best of International News come to you. 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. 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! Search above to list available cemeteries. 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. On July 10, 1994, Donald Christopher Windecker set out for a dive in Lake Tahoe. 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. Jim Byers. In cold water, the lower temperatures make them relatively inactive. Some say his grandson, Philippe Cousteau Jr., visited there, but only for a 2002 speaking engagement. 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 . Im struggling to make the connection between the last sentence and the rest. Windecker reportedly experienced difficulty with his equipment and began to sink. The Taliban silenced him. View Source Share Save to Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Created by: Athena Global, Find a Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current. 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. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 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. Accompanied by a friend, Windecker planned to swim to a depth of about 100 feet.But trouble occurred toward the end of the dive as the pair began to ascend. 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. Were not investigating this as a homicide,Golmitz said. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. In 2011, Donald Christopher Windecker's body was recovered and identified after dying in a diving accident 17 years ago. Crayfish don't like deep water. "That was the last thing he did for (the child)," Ramos said. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. (via Los Angeles Times) Most Popular; From NewsFeed It doesn't appear in any feeds, and anyone with a direct link to it will see a message like this one. This was not the case with Windecker, who was covered head to toe in a wet suit with gloves and boots. CA - Lake Tahoe, scuba diver's body found, Jul'11 - Donald Windecker. The name of Donald Christopher Windecker was released . At least, there was until people introduced kokanee salmon to the rivers, and then crawfish as a food source. Windecker reportedly suffered difficulty with his equipment and began to sink. Lake Tahoe expert and author Mark McLaughlin has his doubts. The body of a scuba diver recovered from Lake Tahoe has been identified as Donald Christopher Windecker, who disappeared while diving 17 years ago. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. The well-preserved body of Donald Christopher Windecker was discovered July 23 on an underwater shelf, 265 feet below the surface. 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. Copyright (c) 2011, Los Angeles Times Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 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 at Lake Tahoe also resurface. Resend Activation Email. Jim Byers told the Times, attributing the preservation to 35-degree water and water pressure. "We'll be able to do a thorough autopsy. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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 . The bacteria produce gases as waste: carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide. "In warm water, the bacteria will still work just fine, so gases will build up and bodies will float. Cold-water crawfish cocaine. Accompanied by a friend, Windecker planned to swim to a depth of about 100 feet. The body of a scuba diver recovered from Lake Tahoe has been identified as a man who disappeared 17 years ago. Windeckers body was discovered in 265 feet of water by a recreational diver in late July off Rubicon Point along Tahoes west shore. 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. 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. Windecker had died 17 years previously while scuba diving and due to the lake's cold. He may have had a heart attack or a stroke or maybe just ran out of air. The surprising condition of the body is attributable to the 35-degree water and the increased pressure at the 265-foot depth, Byers said. 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. Windecker's body was reportedly still donning a wetsuit and was buckled into his scuba gear and air tank. Officials delayed releasing Windeckers name until dental records confirmed his identity. Among those said to populate Lake Tahoes dark depths are Chinese laborers who helped build the railroad across the Sierra Nevada in the 1860s. 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. His friend tried to help, but then began running out of air and had to leave Windecker behind. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. Is that where the rumor comes from? You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. In 2011, the body of Donald Christopher Windecker was recovered from Lake Tahoe, found 350 feet underwater. Is YOUR lifestyle good for your heart? Failed to remove flower. Christopher Windecker is on Facebook. A remote-controlled mini-submarine with a robotic claw raised the remains July 27. Four more divers remain missing in the same area, which is infamous for swallowing up victims. "It's been a long time. ", He points out that the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 and "Surviving photographic documentation and (Central Pacific Railroad) Chinese payrolls confirm that large numbers of Chinese were still on the CPRR payrolls as successful track workers well into the 1870s.". Windecker was reported missing in July of 1994 when he was scuba diving in Lake Tahoe with a friend. Perhaps it was ducks that moved the kokanee salmon to the rivers there probably are a couple bodies at the bottom of the lake. 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