This thread is dedicated to research into deaths at the Burning Man Festivals North of Reno Nevada.
The very name "Burning Man" reflects a time when human sacrifice was used in pagan religions and as punishments.
Also known as the "Wicker Man" - Live men and women are placed inside a large wicker man and that is set on fire.
I have heard of people going "missing" , since many that make the trek hitchhike ... ie they never make it to the event or they never return from it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_ManBurning Man is a week-long annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, in the United States. The event begins on the last Monday in August, and ends on the first Monday in September, which coincides with the American Labor Day holiday.
The 2012 Burning Man Festival is August 27 to September 3.
It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening. The event is described by many participants as an experiment in community, art, radical self-expression, and radical self-reliance.[1][2][3][4] Burning Man is organized by Black Rock City, LLC. In 2010, 51,515 people attended Burning Man.[5] 2011 attendance was capped at 50,000 participants and the event sold out[6] on July 24. In April 2011, Larry Harvey announced that the organization had begun the process of transitioning management of the festival over to a new non-profit called the "Burning Man Project".
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Origins:
Baker Beach S.F. Calif
The second Burning Man on Baker Beach, San Francisco, CA, 1987.1986 (-1989) - 8 ft (2.4 m) -
Baker Beach (San Francisco) - 20 - Free - None
Larry Harvey & Jerry James build & burn wooden man on Baker Beach on the summer solstice, following a ritual bonfire tradition begun by Mary Grauberger| - - - -
Deaths:http://bm.tribe.net/thread/edd097d1-017a-41f9-a464-9565d751970a2007 - Sorry to be morbid... but I really want to know.
5 people's lives ended this year at Burning Man, a record, and I want to know how it happened. I know of the
one suicide and also heard of someone whos ear was entirely ripped off in a biking accident (did he survive?)
What were the other deaths?
http://burncast.tv/blog/index.php?categories=videoKION Focuses On
Elias Sorokin 's Father
05 August 2009
In my opinion KION-TV, the local CBS affilliate in California's Central Coast, has the most comprehensive taped news coverage on the case of
missing burner Elias Sorokin. Their tweets (follow @KIONRightNow on Twitter) has been enormously useful in tracking latest updates.This video clip focuses on Elias' father Nick Sorokin.
Elias has been missing since July 20 2009 and
the police department are now considering this a homicide case. At this time the search for his body continues.
[ It seems he was on his way to sell pot... he never made it ] http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_2003227202/23/2012
SANTA CRUZ - One of two men convicted in
the murder of Los Angeles businessman Elias Sorokin was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.
Judge Paul Marigonda sentenced Stewart Law Skuba, 34, to spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole on the murder conviction as well as robbery.
...
Prosecutors say on July 21, 2009, Skuba beat Elias Sorokin unconscious in a Felix Street garage, stole Sorokin's marijuana and his belongings and dumped his body off a North Coast cliff.
...
Elias Sorokin - a tree-trimmer and partner in an L.A. fashion design company - stopped in Santa Cruz nearly three years ago while on his way from the Bay Area to his home in Los Angeles. To fund his legitimate business ventures, Sorokin had begun selling drugs, something his friends cautioned him against. It was a short-term solution, he told them, not something he intended to continue.
During that fateful trip, Sorokin was carrying pounds of marijuana. He met Skuba at his house on Felix Street. Inside the garage, Skuba and his friend, Adam Hunt, planned to rob Sorokin.
They used chloroform and beat Sorokin unconscious, leaving his blood spattered in the garage. Throughout the loud struggle, Skuba's friend, Kristen Roberts, a self-described alcoholic and drug addict, and her father remained upstairs, but did nothing to stop the fight.
Hunt left. Skuba called Kenneth Kirk Clamp to help dispose of Sorokin's body. They loaded it into the back of Sorokin's pickup and dumped it off a cliff on the North Coast. His body has never been found. Deputies found the torched truck in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Skuba and Roberts were arrested a few weeks after the murder. They'd used Sorokin's credit cards and had shared his marijuana, music equipment and laptop.
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http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Thats-a-Wrap-Burning-Man-2011-129266453.html...
2011 - It was a perfect year for the lucky 53,700+ who ended up getting a ticket in time for the event. So far no reports of accidental deaths or major drug busts, but word on those often take time to travel through the city
http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/obituaries/erika-kupfersberger/article_b2bf895e-d903-11e0-8d7f-001cc4c002e0.html
Erika Kupfersberger
1978-2011
Erika Karen Kupfersberger was born in Sarasota, Fla., on April 15, 1978, and raised in Green Forest, Ark., the daughter of Lin Wellford and Klaus Kupfersberger.
She passed away Monday, Sept. 5, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage while attending the Burning Man festival...
In addition, she leaves the love of her life, Marshall Coffy, with whom she shared many wonderful times, including a joyous week at the festival.
It will not surprise anyone who knew her that
Erika was on the organ donor registry, and that her tragic and untimely death will mean new life and health for others. | - - -
http://www.facebook.com/BurningMan/posts/270967599600244My best friend and love of my life,
Erika (The Red) Kupfersberger suffered a fatal brain aneurysm at Burning Man on Saturday as the man burned.
Her lost bag had her 2 Red Cameras in it. These are the final images of her before she died. As you know, having these last pictures of Erika is incredibly important to the family and I , and we very much appreciate your and the BRC community's efforts to help us locate them.
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http://www.erowid.org/culture/burningman/burningman_faq.shtml...
Burning Man can be dangerous. As the tickets state... "
You voluntarily assume the risk of serious injury or death by attending." They're not kidding.
One woman died in 2003 after jumping from an art car and falling under its wheels.
http://burncast.tv/blog/index.php?categories=videoBurning Man 1997 - A Video Retrospective Series
Wow. This video really does take us back. Feather boas on the playa and Nambla the Clown???1997 marked another major pivotal year Burning Man and the event almost didn't take place.
Due to the accidents and deaths from the year before, it was considered too dangerous to continue in the same way. In order to manage the increased liability load, the organizers formed the Black Rock City, LLC
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/103203794.htmlBurning Man Citations, Arrests Unchanged in
2010 Thirty-eight participants were taken to Reno hospitals and
one person died of apparent heart failure.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033540/Spectacular-pictures-50-000-party-weekend-away-Burning-Man-festival.htmlBurning Man 2011...
one reveller was said to have died on Wednesday from 'natural causes'[ Planner for Burning man passes away: ] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/arts/rod-garrett-the-urban-planner-behind-burning-man.htmlA Vision of How People Should Live, From Desert Revelers to Urbanites
A
2006 image of the grounds at the Burning Man festival, called Black Rock City, in Nevada.
By FRED A. BERNSTEIN
Published: August 28, 2011
....
And
Rod Garrett, who, beginning in 1997, laid out Burning Man, the annual festival of self-expression in the parched northern Nevada desert.
Mr. Garrett died last week at 74, just short of the 25th anniversary of Burning Man’s founding.
But his handiwork will be on display to thousands as the yearly festival begins Monday.
Mr. Garrett arranged the grounds, called Black Rock City, in a series of concentric semicircles. At their
center is the Man, a giant effigy meant to be immolated on the last night of the weeklong gathering.
...