Arizona
Remains found in 2009 near Hoover Dam in Arizona identified
ARIZONA — The remains of a John Doe who was found back in 2009 near the Arizona-Nevada border close to the Hoover Dam have been identified.
The body belonged to William Herman Hietamaki, who was born on April 4, 1950. According to authorities he was from Trout Creek, Michigan.
Back on Nov. 11, 2009, as construction workers were pouring cement on a Highway 93 widening project near the Hoover Dam, one of them found what appeared to be a bone, according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
The workers searched the surrounding area, locating more bones and realized the bones were human remains.
Construction workers and authorities did another search of the area and found more bones along with “a sun-bleached pair of blue jeans, a damaged white towel, a sun-bleached red T-shirt, a black athletic shoe and a green sleeping bag.”
Days later an additional search resulted in finding more of the remains. All evidence was turned over to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. Detectives spent years on the case and tried to generate leads to no avail.
How were remains found near Hoover Dam identified?
On Feb. 2, 2022, an MCSO detective took a bone sample from the victim supplied by the medical examiner. The sample was submitted for examination to the Arizona Department of Public Safety lab requesting a DNA profile so it could be entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national DNA database maintained by the FBI.
A sample was also sent to the University of North Texas (UNT), where an extracted DNA sample was taken and stored away. All efforts to identify the remains were unsuccessful.
In April 2024, investigators who were a part of Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the sheriff’s office were alerted by Othram Inc., a genetics lab in Texas, that there was funding to cover Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) for this case. The sample from UNT was sent to the Othram lab and a DNA profile was made and placed into a genealogy database for investigation to have a genetic genealogist look it over.
In October 2024, SIU investigators finally learned Hietamaki’s identity and spoke with relatives who said he traveled throughout the Southwest and was known to hitchhike.
Hietamaki, who went by his middle name, Herman, was last seen by his family when he went to visit his sister in New Mexico in 1995. Public records show he lived in Las Vegas for a short time. Hietamaki had a history of epileptic seizures, according to MCSO.
The medical examiner couldn’t determine the cause of death because his remains were badly decomposed but estimated he died somewhere in 2006-08.
Arizona
Person accused of making terroristic threats to medical facility in northern Arizona
PAGE, AZ (AZFamily) — A person accused of making terroristic threats toward a northern Arizona medical facility was arrested Friday morning.
Just after 10:30 p.m., police received a report of a person calling the facility and threatening to kill staff and Native Americans, according to the Page Police Department.
Authorities said staff placed the facility on lockdown until officers identified the suspect and arrested them outside their home.
The suspect was booked on charges of disorderly conduct, threatening and intimidating, and making terroristic threats. Police have not publicly identified the person.
“The Page Police Department is grateful for and supports the medical staff’s decision to put the medical facility into lockdown until the suspect was arrested and the situation was rendered safe,” the department said in a Facebook post.
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Arizona
NFL mock draft: 4-round projections for Arizona Cardinals
In these four-round projections, the Arizona Cardinals don’t get a tackle until the fourth round.
We are just days away from the 2026 NFL draft, and that means some final mock drafts. What direction will the draft take the Arizona Cardinals?
Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy put together a four-round mock draft for the Cardinals. They go defense early but rebuild the offense for 2026 and moving forward, including landing their potential franchise quarterback.
Cardinals 4-round mock draft
Here are the players in the first four rounds Popejoy projects for Arizona.
- Round 1: Ohio State EDGE/LB Arvell Reese
- Round 2: Alabama QB Ty Simpson
- Round 3: Clemson WR Antonio Williams
- Round 4: Florida OT Austin Barber
What we think of the picks
The Cardinals want to trade out of the third pick and draft a tackle, so not getting a tackle until Round 4 seems unlikely, although they did meet with Barber. They do have options at right tackle for 2026 already on the roster.
Reese would be a great pick if they don’t trade back, as they badly need pass-rushing help off the edge.
Drafting Simpson seems inevitable at this point, so it has to be in a mock draft, although the feeling is they will need to go up into Round 1 again to get him.
Williams has speed and is almost six feet tall, but he does have short arms.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Arizona
Detroit Lions NFL Draft Injury Report: Arizona State CB Keith Abney
Due to significant injuries to the CB position last year which includes a shoulder surgery for Terrion Arnold, the Lions CB position scored a 6/10 need on my Lions Defensive Draft Need Rankings. Thus, an early-round selection of a young, healthy prospect like Keith Abney would not come as a surprise. He enters the draft with very low medical concern level.
Here is the excerpt from my medical report on Keith Abney:
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)
Keith Abney, CB (21) – Arizona State
Projected round 2-3. #43 on Jeff Risdon board Feb 19.
Concern level 0/10
There is an isolated report of a hand injury but no corroborating information. Even if the hand injury is true, that’s of minimal to no long-term concern.
His availability in his final two seasons has been perfect. Overall, Abney appears to be medically clean and is at an excellent age.
He finished college with 6 INT and 21 PBU.
For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD
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