Keith Olson: Skeleton found on Massachusetts highway 38 years ago ID'd as man who vanished after tiff over girlfriend
FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS: A skeleton discovered on April 8, 1985, by a driver traveling along Interstate 195 has been identified at last as belonging to Keith Olson, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
Olson, a 27-year-old from Cranston, Rhode Island, was reported missing in 1981, per New York Post.
When the skeleton was discovered 38 years ago, investigators were unable to get any closer to the victim's identity. The remains were reportedly sent to the FBI lab in Washington for further examination.
It was then determined that the skeleton belonged to a white male, approximately 5'9" tall, who had been killed within a few years of the discovery. Forensic analysis showed evidence of inflicted trauma, and the cause of death was determined to be homicide.
How did investigators identify the skeleton?
Initially, efforts to identify the remains included comparing dental records to other missing persons cases, and appealing to the public for information, neither of which succeeded in providing any leads.
The skeleton remained unidentified for almost four decades until the state law enforcement partnered with Othram, a private laboratory located in Texas, and the FBI's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Team.
A genetic profile was developed from the DNA evidence recovered from the remains. When traced to a family tree, this led to the positive identification of the remains as Keith Olson.
What is known about Keith Olson's disappearance?
According to the District Attorney's Office, before his disappearance, Olson had briefly dated a woman who had previously been in a relationship with a North Providence resident named John Broccoli. This resulted in friction between the two men.
On the day of Olson's disappearance, Broccoli reportedly made "cryptic statements" to the woman in the middle. A witness stated that he saw Olson being escorted by two men from his apartment on April 15, 1981.
Broccoli, who also went by Michael Corleone, died in 2019 at the age of 63.
Investigators said they are still seeking the public's assistance in providing any information about the disappearance and murder of Olson. Anyone with any lead is urged to call Massachusetts State Police Detective Lt AnnMarie Robertson at 855-627-6583.
