Mystery of human remains found near power plant 15 years ago finally solved – US News

Human remains discovered at a power plant fifteen years ago have finally been identified.

Two construction workers pouring cement on the ground US Highway 93, near the Hoover Dam, found a number of bones in the area in 2009.

After alerting authorities, more bones were found, as well as items belonging to the person, including “a pair of sun-bleached jeans, a damaged white towel, a sun-bleached red T-shirt, a black trainer and a vegetable to sleep bag’.

A second search “subsequently resulted in the collection of the additional remains,” according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office.

“All items were then turned over to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. Detectives continued the investigation over the years in an attempt to generate leads to no avail,” she added.

Two years ago, a detective sent a bone sample from the victim for testing to the DPS laboratory in Arizona, requesting that a DNA profile be obtained to try to identify the unknown person.

They also sent a sample to the University of North Texas (UNT), but both had “negative results.”

However, in April this year, researchers were notified by Othram Inc., a genetics laboratory in Texas, that they had received a grant to pay for Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG).

“In October 2024, SIU investigators received a report indicating that the John Doe was a descendant of ancestors born in the mid-1800s and living in Michigan,” the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office explained.

“An investigation began in which possible relatives of John Doe were located and interviewed.”

After speaking with family members, investigators were able to confirm that William Herman Hietamaki, a brother of the siblings interviewed, had not been seen by them since 1995 after traveling through the southwestern US.

“Reference testing conducted on these family members confirmed that the unidentified remains were those of John Doe Hietamaki,” police added.

William Herman Hietamaki was born on April 4, 1950. He and his family lived in the Trout Creek, Michigan area.

‘He went by his middle name, Herman.

“He went to high school in Michigan and to mechanic school when he graduated. Some time after high school he left Michigan and started traveling.

“He was known to hitchhike to various locations and lead a nomadic lifestyle.

“Hietamaki was last seen by his family when he went to visit his sister in New Mexico in 1995.

“A public records search revealed that he once lived in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“He suffered from epileptic fits. The ME office was unable to determine his cause of death due to the condition of his remains.

“They estimate that the year of his death was between 2006 and 2008.”