Michigan Cold Case Cracked – Remains ID’d 28 Years Later

A Michigan cold case that sat unsolved for nearly three decades has finally been cracked, thanks to cutting-edge DNA technology.

Remains Found in 1997 Field Finally Identified

Skeletal remains found rolled up in a carpet in a Plymouth Township field in 1997 have now been identified as those of Benjamin Fountain, who would be 99 years old today. Using forensic genealogy, investigators were able to confirm his identity and take a major step forward in the decades-old mystery.

DNA Technology Leads to Breakthrough

The breakthrough came through DNA testing conducted by Othram, a private Texas lab that specializes in forensic genealogy. Experts created a genealogical profile that led them to a relative of Fountain, allowing investigators to confirm his identity.

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Othram determined the victim's ancestry was African, which helped narrow the search. Police then worked with possible family members to match DNA and officially identify the remains as Fountain’s.

According to WJBK-TV in Detroit, Fountain was originally from West Virginia and had served in World War II after being drafted. He later moved to Detroit.

What Investigators Found in 1997

Although investigators tested a bullet, clothing, and a class ring found with Fountain’s body in 1997, no matches were found at the time. A round of traditional DNA testing conducted in 2015 was also inconclusive.

Fountain’s death has been ruled a homicide. Investigators say he died from a suspected head injury, and a .357 caliber slug was found near his remains.

Case Ruled a Homicide, But Questions Remain

While the victim has now been identified, the question remains: who killed Benjamin Fountain, and how did his body end up in a Michigan field?

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