DNA Breakthrough Solves a Decades-Old Case: William ‘Herman’ Hietamaki Identified After Nearly 30 Years

 

In November 2009, a startling discovery was made by two construction workers on the Highway 93 widening project near Milepost 3 in Kingman, Arizona.

One of the men noticed what seemed to be a bone on the west side of the highway. 

After looking around, they found additional bones and quickly realized they were human. 

They reported it to their supervisor, who contacted the National Park Service. 

A nearby Kingman Police Officer working traffic then informed the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). 

The initial search turned up more human remains.

They also found a sun-bleached red T-shirt, a pair of blue jeans, a damaged white towel, a black athletic shoe, and a green sleeping bag. 

A second search a few days later led to the collection of even more remains.

They were then handed over to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office for forensic analysis. 

Investigators determined the remains belonged to an adult male, likely between 40 and 55 years old, around 5'10" tall. 

Evidence suggested he had been dead for several years by the time his remains were found. 

Over the years, detectives made multiple attempts to identify him but found no leads. 

They eventually named him "Mohave County John Doe."

The details were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under the code UP7248.

In 2022, the man’s skeletal remains were submitted to the Arizona DPS lab to develop an STR profile, which was uploaded to CODIS for potential identification. 

Another DNA sample was sent to the University of North Texas, where it was stored for future analysis. 

Despite these efforts, John Doe’s identity remained a mystery.

Then, in 2024, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office sent forensic evidence to Othram, a lab in The Woodlands, Texas.

They hoped that advanced DNA testing could finally identify the man. 

Using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®, Othram’s scientists created a comprehensive DNA profile and conducted a genetic genealogy search. 

This led to new clues that were provided to law enforcement.

By October 2024, investigators from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office received a report listing possible relatives. 

Following up on these leads, they interviewed the potential relatives and discovered that William “Herman” Hietamaki, born April 4, 1950, had been missing since 1995. 

At the time, he had been traveling in the southwestern United States. 

A DNA sample collected from one of his relatives confirmed that the Mohave County John Doe was, indeed, William “Herman” Hietamaki.

Hietamaki grew up in Trout Creek, Michigan.

He later attended high school in the state, and later studied mechanics. 

After high school, he lived a nomadic lifestyle, hitchhiking across the U.S. 

The last time his family saw him was during a visit to his sister’s home in New Mexico in 1995. 

Records show that he lived at one time in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Although he suffered from epileptic seizures, the Medical Examiner’s Office couldn’t determine his exact cause of death due to the condition of his remains.

However, his death was estimated to have occurred between 2006 and 2008.

Funding for the DNA testing and genetic genealogy used in this case came partially from law enforcement and additional funds from NamUs. 

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