Murder victim found in Oregon woods in 1972 identified as WWII veteran

Core Impact Points

• Armes Henry Lahti, a 77-year-old WWII veteran, was identified as a murder victim found in Oregon woods in 1972.
• Lahti's remains were discovered by a teenager in 1972, but it took over 50 years to identify him using investigative genetic genealogy.
• Lahti was a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II and was described by family members as an avid fisherman and a large yet gentle man.
• The sheriff's office is seeking information about Lahti's death, which is believed to have occurred after a dispute at a bar in 1965.
• Lahti's case is one of many cold cases being solved using investigative genetic genealogy, a technique that combines DNA profiling and family tree research.
• The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office submitted evidence to a laboratory that specializes in investigative genetic genealogy, which led to Lahti's identification.