Officials in southeastern Wisconsin have confirmed the identity of a child’s remains discovered in 1959 in a culvert, bringing closure to a cold case that has lingered for 65 years, thanks to advancements in genetic genealogy.
The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the remains have been identified as belonging to Chester A. Breiney, a seven-year-old who tragically lost his life due to the actions of his adoptive parents. The finding comes after thorough investigative work that included DNA testing and exploring family histories.
Chester’s remains were discovered on October 4, 1959, in Mequon. Initially, investigators had limited information, with only skeletal remains available, and they estimated the child’s age to be between six and eight years old.
In recent years, developments have emerged in Wisconsin and Michigan, especially regarding a missing child named Markku Jutila. Authorities interrogated Markku’s adoptive parents, William and Hilja Jutila, who confessed to abandoning their adopted son’s body on the roadside close to Mequon following his death.
In 1966, the charges against the Jutilas were dismissed because there was not enough conclusive evidence connecting the remains to Markku, resulting in an unresolved case.
Recent efforts have resulted in a significant breakthrough. Special Agent Neil McGrath, Detective Scott Heller, and forensic analysts from the Wisconsin Department of Justice utilized advanced DNA extraction and genealogy methods, collaborating with laboratories and genealogists to identify the remains as Chester Breiney, formerly recognized as Markku Jutila.
The additional examination uncovered a background of neglect and malnutrition in Chester’s skeletal analysis. His adoptive parents, who passed away in 1988, are no longer subject to prosecution.
The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office shared a heartfelt message, expressing their hope that Chester Breiney can now find peace, stating, “No child should leave this Earth like Chester did.”
The office recognized the collective efforts of all investigative teams throughout the years, emphasizing that without this cooperation, justice for Chester may not have been realized.