WI WI - Mequon, UnkSex&Race 4-9, UP126034, remains found near Davis Rd, blond/strawberry hair, short girl's haircut, Oct'59 (Chester Breiney)

[MarziPanda]

That's probably the only picture of Chester that still exists. Kudos for finding it! Hopefully a better scan/copy can be found but it's something at least.

I find it sad that his birth mother died with no remaining family. I doubt she was told what happened to Chester (although maybe she was?). She probably wondered where he was, whether he was happy, whether he ever thought about her, whether he was married with a family of his own, whether he had ever tried to find her. Whether he was angry with her for giving him up for adoption, although as an unmarried woman at that time she had little choice. And all along he had been murdered by those who were supposed to give him the loving, safe home that she couldn't. I don't believe in an afterlife but I hope somehow their atoms are together again.

 

[Triss]

Oh Chester, I'm so sorry life was so cruel to you. It truly breaks my heart. Rest in peace, little angel.

 

[airportwoman]

That's probably the only picture of Chester that still exists. Kudos for finding it! Hopefully a better scan/copy can be found but it's something at least.

I find it sad that his birth mother died with no remaining family. I doubt she was told what happened to Chester (although maybe she was?). She probably wondered where he was, whether he was happy, whether he ever thought about her, whether he was married with a family of his own, whether he had ever tried to find her. Whether he was angry with her for giving him up for adoption, although as an unmarried woman at that time she had little choice. And all along he had been murdered by those who were supposed to give him the loving, safe home that she couldn't. I don't believe in an afterlife but I hope somehow their atoms are together again.

Most likely, she received no information about him after she gave him up.

 

[lightofmine99]

OK so why weren't those responsible held accountable for their actions? MOO.

 

[MarziPanda]

OK so why weren't those responsible held accountable for their actions? MOO.

From what I saw it seems the trial collapsed because they couldn't prove that these were Chester's remains. Back in those days you basically couldn't convict without a body, so that was that. Even though she confessed. I hope they lived the rest of their lives consumed by guilt and rejected by their families.

 

[Quoththeraven]

Adoption records showed Chester was admitted to Good Will Farm, which was an orphanage, and was adopted by Russell and Hilja Jutila on March 24, 1955. #28

All records below are on Ancestry.com.

I see by the above sheriff''s statement that the adoptive father's birth name was actually Russell William Jutila, (not William Jutila) born 13 Aug 1922 in Hubbell, MI. Died 23 Apr 1988 in Hancock, Houghton County, MI. That's supported by the 1930 Federal Census. He did use the name William Russell Jutila on his 1941 draft card. His parents were Aleda Ina Jutila nee Antilla and Michael (Mikko) Jutila. He was married to Hilja Maria Puska on 29 May 1950 in Chassell, Houghton County, MI.

Hilja Maria Jutila was born 26 Jul 1923 in Vähäkyrö, Finland and died 20 Jan 1988 in Hancock, Houghton County, MI. Father was Elia E. Puska. Mother was Anna S Puska nee Turja.

Also noted is that Russell and Hilja aren't buried/mentioned with the rest of the family.

U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current - Ancestry.com

 

[OrgelSpiel]

Here is a Local news report about Chester’s funeral and burial this afternoon.

 

[dotr]

Sep 27, 2025

https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/bloodline-detectives-visits-wisconsin-film-episode-on-now-solved-cold-case-homicide-of-chester-breiney/

''OZAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – The long-running true-crime documentary series Bloodline Detectives traveled to southeast Wisconsin to film an episode on the now-solved 65-year-old cold case homicide of Chester Breiney.

Bloodline Detectives’ production team recently came all the way from Ireland to meet with members of the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation to film an upcoming episode.''

The episode revolves around how the use of genetic genealogy was used to help identify the remains of 7-year-old Chester Breiney, who was found in 1959 in a culvert in Mequon, which led to the closure of the 65-year-old cold case.

 

[Sillybilly]

from: Othram - A Revolution in Cold Case Resolution

12 November, 2024

The boy was found in a ditch in Wisconsin in 1959. He was identified 65 years later.​

DNA evidence has solved a more than 65-year-old cold case involving missing 7-year-old Michigan boy Markku Jutila, born as Chester Breiney. A child's skeleton was found in a culvert on Oct. 4, 1959, in the city of Mequon, nearly 20 miles north of Milwaukee. In July 2024, investigators sought assistance from Othram, the DNA lab that eventually helped identify the victim.