MOUND HOUSE, Nev. (AP) - A decomposing body found along the Carson River has been identified as a one-time Nevada legislative lobbyist who claimed to represent space aliens and campaigned for southern Nevada's "Extraterrestrial Highway."
The body of David Venus Solomon, 52, a self-proclaimed alien known as Ambassador Merlyn Merlin II, was found late last week, said Lyon County Sheriff's Department investigator Cherie Rye.
According to the Washoe County Coroner's Office, identification was made by fingerprints. Deputy Coroner Steve Finnell said the cause of death was undetermined.
"The skull was intact and there were no signs of trauma from what we could tell," he said.
He estimated the body had been there at least a month.
Investigators were unable to locate the car in which Solomon lived, a 1976 brown and white Monte Carlo.
Friend Pat Travis, owner of the Little A'le'Inn in Rachel, Nev., said the man she knew as Merlin never went anywhere without his car.
Travis and Merlin met during the campaign to have State Route 375's name changed to "The Extraterrestrial Highway." Rachel is the only community along the route in the desert about 95 miles north of Las Vegas.
In Carson City, Merlin was a well-known character at the Legislature from 1995 until 1999, when he was barred from the grounds. During the 1999 session, a female employee cleaning a restroom in the Nevada Legislature reported Merlin had exposed himself to her.
Assemblyman Bob Price, D-North Las Vegas, a friend of Merlin's, said the incident was blown out of proportion. Price said Merlin had gone into the bathroom when a cleaning sign was posted, but when he didn't see anyone in the bathroom he used the facilities.
Price said he had known Merlin since 1989 and believed his family was somewhere in California, possibly near Laguna Niguel or Dunsmuir.
Price said Merlin, who claimed to represent the Embassy of the Avalon Saucerians, was featured on numerous national television shows, including CNN's "Larry King Live." Merlin is also referenced on a number of Web sites and in a book by David Darlington called "Area 51: Dreamland Chronicles."
