William Herman Hietamaki was identified this month using genetic genealogy after construction workers initially found human bones near the Hoover Dam in 2009, according to a statement this week from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office. Mohave County Sheriff's Office via FacebookThe items were turned over to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office, but no leads developed despite years of investigating. This month, the sheriff’s office learned that the John Doe in the case had ancestors with roots in Michigan dating back to the 1800s. The sheriff’s office said Hietamaki, a known hitchhiker who lived a nomadic lifestyle, had been traveling in the southwest United States. He was last seen when he visited his sister in New Mexico in 1995, according to the sheriff’s office.

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Persons: William Herman Hietamaki, Hietamaki, John Doe, “, John, Jane, ” Organizations: Office, state’s Department of Public Safety, University of North, Othram Inc, Othram Locations: Arizona, Mohave County, University of North Texas, Texas, Michigan, United States, New Mexico, Las Vegas, , Michigan, Mohave