Man buried in Arizona desert in 1992 identified through DNA

DNA testing and genetic genealogy have identified a man whose remains were found in a shallow grave near Lake Havasu City more than three decades ago, marking a breakthrough in the cold case homicide investigation, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office said.

The remains belonged to Willie Blanton Mills, who was born April 4, 1955, and would have been 36 when his body was discovered, according to a news release.

Deputies found the remains on March 11, 1992, in a wash near Needle Mountain Road off Interstate 40. An autopsy did not determine a cause of death, but classified the case as a homicide.

Fingerprint searches and X-rays turned up no matches at the time.

In June, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System offered to pay for DNA testing. Othram Inc., a Texas-based forensic lab, developed a DNA profile, and an FBI genetic genealogy team traced it to a relative who said Mills had not been seen since 1992.

The FBI notified the sheriff’s office Oct. 21, and fingerprints confirmed the identification.

Mills was originally from Pennsylvania and was living with relatives in Santa Ana, California, when he disappeared. Investigators do not know how he died or how he ended up in Mohave County.

Anyone with information about Mills’ whereabouts around 1992 is asked to call investigators at 928-753-0753 and reference case No. 92-03547.

Related

Yassamin Ansari pledges ‘yes’ vote on Pete Hegseth impeachmentArizona voters may oust 3 judges, including judge in ‘Bachelor’ paternity caseAn ‘Irresistible’ night: Fall Out Boy is coming to Chase Field, so mark your calendars!Hana Japanese Eatery closing after nearly 20 years in central Phoenix2026 Arizona ballot measure results: Voters approve 5 propositions, reject 3Intel ramps up work on new Chandler chip factory, targets 2028 opening