Skeleton in rolled-up carpet in Michigan is ID'd 28 years later, officials say
Clothes, jewelry and skeletal remains spilled out of the piece of carpet in a field on the Plymouth Township property 28 years ago, but officials say the remains had been there for years, according to a June 25 news release from DNASolves.
After years of investigation and DNA testing, the remains were identified as Benjamin Harrison Fountain, officials said.
Fountain was born in 1926 and would have been in his 70s if he was found alive in 1997, according to investigators.
He was born in Virginia and was drafted to serve in World War II, according to DNASolves. He also lived in West Virginia and Detroit.
An initial investigation determined he died of a head injury, and his death was ruled a homicide, officials said. No suspects or persons of interest in the man's death were disclosed by authorities.
Investigators knew little about the man when he was found but determined he was an adult man with a slim body, according to DNASolves.
During the decades-long investigation, officials tested the clothing found with him and tried to determine the origin of the class ring found in the carpet, but still, none of the leads led to his identification.
DNA testing started in 2015, but no match to his profile was made, officials said. His DNA was later sent to the Othram lab in Texas where a DNA profile was created and new leads into his identity were found, according to investigators.
A potential relative was identified, officials said, and the relative's DNA sample ultimately identified Fountain.
Fountain was buried May 16, with his name on his grave, in Brownstown Township, according to officials.
Plymouth Township is about a 30-mile drive west from Detroit.
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2 days ago
Six Palestinians to stand trial in a deadly 1982 attack on a Jewish deli in Paris
A terrorism court in France has ordered six suspected Palestinian militants to go on trial for an attack 43 years ago at a Jewish restaurant and deli in Paris that killed six people, a lawyer said Thursday. Attackers t hrew grenades and then sprayed machine-gun fire into the Jo Goldenberg restaurant on Aug. 9, 1982 in the deadliest antisemitic attack in France since World War II, which also injured 22 people. Two of those killed were Americans. Though four of the suspects remain abroad and likely would be tried in absentia, investigating judges have issued an order for a trial, which could begin early next year, said David Père, who represents victims. The Paris-based court does not publish its orders publicly, and generally does not respond to journalists. The suspects are believed to have been members of the Palestinian militant Abu Nidal group at the time of the attack. The alleged ringleader, Mohamed Souhair al-Abassi, also known as Amjad Atta, is in Jordan where authorities have refused to extradite him. Three other suspects are believed to be in either the Palestinian territories or in Jordan: Mahmoud Khader Abed Adra, also called Hicham Harb; Nabil Hassan Mahmoud Othmane, also known as Ibrahim Hamza, and Nizar Tawfiq Moussa Hamada, also known as Hani. One of the defendants, Walid Abdulrahman Abu Zayed, had emigrated with his family to Norway and was extradited to France in 2020. The sixth defendant, Hazza Taha, was detained more recently in Paris. Père, who represents dozens of relatives of the victims and one direct survivor, said the trial is 'historic' for them. 'For them, this is not about the past but the present. It's a trial they intend to follow day by day," Père told The Associated Press. The one survivor represented by Père wasn't injured in the attack but remains traumatized by it. 'He wants to see the suspects and try to understand,' Père said. Jo Goldenberg, the owner of the Jewish restaurant and deli, recalled the horror of the lunchtime attack during an interview in 2002. 'They fired on everyone who was eating lunch - everyone,' Goldenberg said at the time. The place, which has since closed, was a centerpiece tourist attraction in the Marais neighborhood. French authorities announced in 2015 — nearly 33 years after the attack — that international arrest warrants had been issued for the suspects. The Abu Nidal faction, named after its leader, is considered responsible for nearly two dozen attacks that left at least 275 people dead, including assaults on El Al Israel Airlines ticket counters at the Rome and Vienna airports in 1985 in which 18 people were killed. The notorious Abu Nidal himself was found dead in his Baghdad apartment in August 2002. Iraqi authorities said Abu Nidal, whose real name is Sabri al-Banna, died by suicide.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Six Palestinians to stand trial in a deadly 1982 attack on a Jewish deli in Paris
A terrorism court in France has ordered six suspected Palestinian militants to go on trial for an attack 43 years ago at a Jewish restaurant and deli in Paris that killed six people, a lawyer said Thursday. Attackers t hrew grenades and then sprayed machine-gun fire into the Jo Goldenberg restaurant on Aug. 9, 1982 in the deadliest antisemitic attack in France since World War II, which also injured 22 people. Two of those killed were Americans. Though four of the suspects remain abroad and likely would be tried in absentia, investigating judges have issued an order for a trial, which could begin early next year, said David Père, who represents victims. The Paris-based court does not publish its orders publicly, and generally does not respond to journalists. The suspects are believed to have been members of the Palestinian militant Abu Nidal group at the time of the attack. The alleged ringleader, Mohamed Souhair al-Abassi, also known as Amjad Atta, is in Jordan where authorities have refused to extradite him. Three other suspects are believed to be in either the Palestinian territories or in Jordan: Mahmoud Khader Abed Adra, also called Hicham Harb; Nabil Hassan Mahmoud Othmane, also known as Ibrahim Hamza, and Nizar Tawfiq Moussa Hamada, also known as Hani. One of the defendants, Walid Abdulrahman Abu Zayed, had emigrated with his family to Norway and was extradited to France in 2020. The sixth defendant, Hazza Taha, was detained more recently in Paris. Père, who represents dozens of relatives of the victims and one direct survivor, said the trial is 'historic' for them. 'For them, this is not about the past but the present. It's a trial they intend to follow day by day,' Père told The Associated Press. The one survivor represented by Père wasn't injured in the attack but remains traumatized by it. 'He wants to see the suspects and try to understand,' Père said. Jo Goldenberg, the owner of the Jewish restaurant and deli, recalled the horror of the lunchtime attack during an interview in 2002. 'They fired on everyone who was eating lunch - everyone,' Goldenberg said at the time. The place, which has since closed, was a centerpiece tourist attraction in the Marais neighborhood. French authorities announced in 2015 — nearly 33 years after the attack — that international arrest warrants had been issued for the suspects. The Abu Nidal faction, named after its leader, is considered responsible for nearly two dozen attacks that left at least 275 people dead, including assaults on El Al Israel Airlines ticket counters at the Rome and Vienna airports in 1985 in which 18 people were killed. The notorious Abu Nidal himself was found dead in his Baghdad apartment in August 2002. Iraqi authorities said Abu Nidal, whose real name is Sabri al-Banna, died by suicide. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
ICE entices new recruits with patriotism pitch and promise of $50,000 signing bonuses
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