Authorities in Arizona have identified human remains found near the Hoover Dam in 2009 as William Herman Hietamaki, a man who had been missing for nearly 30 years. Construction workers discovered bones, clothing, and other items near Highway 93, but no leads developed despite years of investigation. In 2022, a bone sample was sent for scientific testing, and genetic genealogy was used to identify Hietamaki. He had been a nomadic hitchhiker last seen in New Mexico in 1995. It was determined that he died between 2006 and 2008, but the cause of death remains unknown.
The technique of genetic genealogy, using commercial DNA databases to find family matches, was used to connect Hietamaki’s remains to his relatives with roots in Michigan dating back to the 1800s. His siblings, who had not seen him since 1995, confirmed his identity. Hietamaki had traveled extensively in the Southwest U.S., lived in Las Vegas, and suffered from epileptic seizures. Born in 1950 in Michigan, he left after high school to travel and was not heard from for many years. The medical examiner’s office was unable to determine the cause of his death due to the state of his remains.
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to Othram Inc. for their work in solving the case and providing closure to Hietamaki’s family. The identification of John Doe highlights the importance of using genetic genealogy to solve cold cases and bring closure to families of missing persons.
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