DNA evidence and genealogical data have finally led investigators to positively identify a skeleton found off the motorway near Fairhaven as a Rhode Island man who went missing in 1981, the Bristol County DA’s Office announced.
The Bristol County DA’s Office stated that after connecting this individual to a family tree, investigators were able to confirm the recovered remains as Keith Olson of Cranston, RI. Mr. Olson was last seen in April 1981 and had been reported missing from Cranston.
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The identification comes almost 40 years after Olson’s remains were discovered on April 8, 1985. A driver traveling on Interstate 195 had stopped in the breakdown lane in Fairhaven, just over the Mattapoisett border, when they spotted a human skeleton in the brush about 45 feet from the roadway.
Despite police searching the area, there was no information on the identity of the body. The FBI determined that the victim was a 5’9″ Caucasian male who had been killed within a few years of the discovery. The presence of trauma to the body led investigators to classify the case as a homicide.
Over the years, investigators tried unsuccessfully to use dental records to compare with other missing person cases. They also created a facial reconstruction based on the man’s skull and shared information through the media.
Finally, as part of the Bristol DA’s Unidentified Bodies Project, investigators partnered with the Othram private laboratory in Texas and the FBI to create a genetic profile of the man. This profile was then compared to thousands of people using forensic genetic genealogy, resulting in the development of a family tree that led to Keith Olson.
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Olson, a Rhode Island native, was reported missing from his home in Cranston in April 1981. At the time of his disappearance, he was 27 years old. The investigation revealed that Olson had been dating a woman, causing friction with her ex-boyfriend, John Broccoli. Broccoli, also known as “Michael Corleone,” made cryptic statements on the day of Olson’s disappearance that suggested his possible involvement. Broccoli passed away in 2019 at the age of 63.
Investigators are now seeking any information related to Olson’s disappearance and murder. They believe that the crime was committed by at least two people and are urging anyone with information to contact Massachusetts State Police.
The identification of Keith Olson’s remains highlights the need for better coordination between counties and states in cases of missing persons and unidentified bodies. Authorities are encouraging anyone with a missing relative to contact State Police and provide a DNA sample to the National Missing and Unidentified Person System, which can be used for DNA comparisons nationwide.
With advances in technology and the cooperation of agencies across the country, it is hoped that these efforts will help identify previously unidentified human remains and provide answers in missing person cases.
