Decades-Old Ozaukee County Homicide Cold Case Solved: Genetic Genealogy Identifies Child Victim, Adoptive Parents Implicated

A 65-year-old child homicide case in Ozaukee County has been solved using genetic genealogy. As reported by

CBS58

, the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office has identified the remains as those of Chester A. Breiney, a seven-year-old boy who, detectives say, was killed by his adoptive parents.

On October 4, 1959, Chester’s skeletal remains were discovered in a ditch in Mequon. Initially, a missing child from Houghton County, Michigan, named Markku Jutila was linked to the case. The adoptive parents, William and Hilja Jutila had faced scrutiny when they could not account for Markku’s whereabouts, and eventually, the investigators learned that they had disposed of the child’s body in Mequon before relocating to Chicago. Despite a confession, there were no charges due to the lack of physical evidence to connect the remains to the adoptive parents, a situation that lingered unresolved for decades, notes

WeAreGreenBay.com

.

However, in the wake of strides made in forensic science, the narrative began to change. Modern DNA extraction methods and investigative genealogy were pivotal in this cold case’s resolution. Special Agent Neil McGrath and Detective Scott Heller, working with forensic analysts from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, orchestrated the effort that led to a definitive identification.

Investigators, as briefed by

JSONline

, used DNA from the skull, confirming that the remains were of a male individual, and investigative genealogy traced back to Chester Breiney, previously believed to be Markku Jutila. Furthermore, an examination of Chester’s remains highlighted a harrowing history of neglect and malnutrition. Unfortunately, his adoptive parents, implicated in his death, passed away in 1988, closing the window for prosecution.

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