The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said on Tuesday that a nearly 40-year-old skeleton had been identified as Keith Olson of Rhode Island. Before going missing, Olson allegedly had “friction” with his girlfriend’s ex.
Olson, who was 27 at the time, went missing on April 15, 1981, while dating a woman whose ex, North Providence resident John Broccoli, reportedly had “friction” with the victim, according to authorities, according to MassLive. According to the outlet, a witness told authorities that he saw two men accompany the Rhode Island resident from his apartment prior to his disappearance. (RELATED: Police Say Neighbors Heard Screams For Help Weeks Before Missing Man’s Body Found Stuck In Chimney)
A few years later, on April 8, 1985, a driver traveling west on I-195 in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, called the police after seeing a skeleton on the side of the road. Police recovered the skeleton and some physical evidence after the driver assisted in locating the body, but were unable to identify who the body belonged to, according to authorities.
The body was turned over to the FBI, and a lab determined that John Doe was a white male standing around 5-foot-9 inches tall. According to the DA’s office, the lab also discovered that the body had been killed a few years prior, as there were signs of trauma, which led to a homicide ruling.
Advanced DNA profiling enabled investigators to link the body to Olson’s family tree, where investigators were able to positively identify the Rhode Island man as the skeleton, according to WCVB5.
”Without the use of that advanced genealogical DNA testing, many of these cases cannot be solved. If you don’t get to a family tree, you have no identification. It’s that simple,” Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn told WCVB5.
Missing man’s skeleton identified, cryptic statements made
While no suspects have been named, authorities have stated that Broccoli made “cryptic statements” to Olson’s then-girlfriend, implying that he was involved in the incident. However, the North Providence resident died in 2019 at the age of 63, according to the DA’s office, as reported by MassLive. (RELATED: Video Allegedly Shows Samuel Haskell Jr. Discarding Large Object In Dumpster, Which Could Be Related To Recovered Torso)
“Keith Olson, our son, and brother, was a very, very much loved, endeared, and respected member of our family and is deeply missed,” Olson’s family stated in response to his body being identified. “Keith’s disappearance has been the most horrible experience our family has ever faced. The not knowing and the longing for him to come home have long been a tremendous devastation.”
Investigators are still asking for the public’s assistance in closing the case, emphasizing that they believe the crime was “committed by at least two people,” and that “there are individuals who could provide helpful information.”