Overview

• The remains were discovered by construction workers near the Hoover Dam in 2009 and were recently identified as William Herman Hietamaki.
• Hietamaki was last seen by his family in 1995 when he visited his sister in New Mexico; he was known for his nomadic lifestyle and hitchhiking.
• Authorities estimate that Hietamaki died between 2006 and 2008, but the cause of death remains unknown due to the condition of his remains.
• The identification was made possible by Othram Inc., a Texas-based genetic lab, which received grant funding for forensic genetic genealogy testing.
• Hietamaki's family, who had not seen him for nearly 30 years, expressed relief and closure following the identification of his remains.