Burning Man 2025 ended under grim circumstances after authorities confirmed that a man was found dead during the festival’s climax on Saturday night. The incident, discovered as the Man effigy was set ablaze, has prompted a homicide investigation and an urgent plea for information from the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office.

The body was discovered around 9 p.m. on August 30. Witnesses reported seeing the man lying in a pool of blood, and law enforcement was quickly alerted. According to Sheriff Jerry Allen, the victim is described as a white male in his mid-to-late thirties, approximately six feet tall and weighing around 200 pounds. He had short brown hair and facial hair. The man was pronounced dead at the scene before being transported to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office for further analysis.

The sheriff’s office has confirmed that the case is being treated as a suspected homicide. Investigators from Pershing County, Bureau of Land Management rangers, and the Washoe County Forensic Science Division are working together to gather evidence. Sheriff Allen has urged attendees to come forward with any details, no matter how small, that could help identify the victim or provide leads in the case.

Burning Man organizers have stated that they are fully cooperating with law enforcement and have encouraged participants not to interfere with the ongoing investigation. Peer support and counseling resources were made available to festivalgoers following the discovery.

The tragedy occurred in front of tens of thousands of participants who had gathered to witness the symbolic burning of the Man, the festival’s annual highlight. While many were unaware of the situation unfolding nearby, news of the death spread quickly across Black Rock City.

This marks one of the most serious incidents in the event’s history since it moved to Nevada in 1990. With more than 70,000 people attending this year’s gathering, authorities face challenges in tracking down potential witnesses as the temporary city is dismantled and participants leave the desert.

Despite the shocking development, Burning Man 2025 continued with its scheduled Temple Burn on Sunday night, offering a solemn close to a week defined by both creativity and hardship. Earlier in the week, storms had battered the playa, damaging camps and art installations, and an attendee was airlifted following a reported electrocution.

The homicide investigation remains active, and officials stress that the case is a priority. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office immediately.