Las Vegas authorities say they've identified a suspected murder victim whose remains were found in a barrel in Lake Mead four years ago and are expected to publicly announce it later today.

Receding water levels helped expose the barrel and have been credited for the discovery of other human remains in the lake, including those of suspected drowning victims and missing persons.

"The bad old days always resurface, don't they?" said Randy Sutton, a retired Las Vegas police lieutenant who has been monitoring the case.