Remains found near the Hoover Dam in Arizona over a decade ago have been identified as William Herman Hietamaki, who had been missing for almost 30 years. The discovery, made by construction workers in 2009, included human bones and various personal items such as clothing and a sleeping bag. Despite years of investigation, no leads were developed until a bone sample was sent for DNA testing in 2022. Through genetic genealogy testing, Hietamaki’s family was identified, and it was revealed that he had not been seen since visiting his sister in New Mexico in 1995. Hietamaki, born in 1950 in Michigan, lived a nomadic lifestyle as a hitchhiker and had a history of epileptic seizures. Due to the condition of the remains, the medical examiner’s office was unable to determine the cause of his death. The use of forensic genetic genealogy, a technique increasingly used by law enforcement to solve cold cases, ultimately provided closure for Hietamaki’s family. The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to Othram Inc. for their work in the case and their efforts to obtain grant funding for the investigation.
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Man missing since 1995 identified as whose remains found near Hoover Dam
