DNA identifies man found in Mississippi River after three decades
- Benny Leo Olson was identified after authorities exhumed his remains for DNA testing nearly three decades after his discovery in the Mississippi River.
- His half-sister revealed that he struggled with mental illness and had not been in contact with family shortly before his death.
- The case's resolution showcases the effectiveness of modern forensic methods in solving cold cases and reuniting families with lost identities.
In Missouri, a man whose body was discovered in the Mississippi River in 1994 has been identified after more than three decades. Jefferson County officials confirmed the identity of Benny Leo Olson, a resident of Edwardsville, Illinois, after exhuming his remains for new DNA analysis. The efforts to resolve this cold case highlight the advancements in forensic technology that have made such identifications possible. Officials noted that there are no suspicions of foul play in his death, revealing a somber end to a long mystery for Olson’s family. His half-sister, Catherine Heston, expressed her relief at the identification, mentioning their long-standing uncertainty about his fate. Olson's background sheds light on the challenges he faced, including mental health issues. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which led to significant difficulties in his life. In 1980, he faced legal troubles for his erratic behavior, including a charge related to attempting to pay someone to burn down his stepmother’s house. Following this incident, his fingerprints were collected and eventually played a crucial role in confirming his identity as part of the recent investigation. Olson spent a considerable time in mental health facilities after being found incompetent to stand trial. Family members had not seen or heard from him effectively since the early 1990s prior to finding his body. Heston recounted that her last communication with him occurred about a month before his body was found, describing it as a call during a 'paranoid delusion,' which added a layer of complexity to their family dynamic and understanding of his circumstances. After Olaf's disappearance, his family struggled to understand what might have happened to him, preserving mementos like his high school ring and family photos as they wondered. The resolution of Benny Leo Olson's case through advances in genetic genealogy is a critical testament to the use of modern science in solving outstanding mysteries. Alyssa Feller, a forensic genetic genealogist who worked on the case, emphasized how such technology can restore identities to those without names and provide closure for grieving families, allowing them to understand the fates of their loved ones who went missing under mysterious circumstances.