PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. — On Friday, the remains of a 7-year-old boy were laid to rest, marking a poignant closure in a lengthy endeavor to identify a skeleton discovered years earlier in a Wisconsin road culvert.

The boy, originally named Chester Breiney, was known as Markku Jutila when he disappeared in 1959 after being adopted by a family in Houghton County, Michigan. Recent investigations and DNA testing revealed his true identity, a fact confirmed by authorities on November 8.

In 1966, Chester’s adoptive parents faced charges related to his death. However, the case was eventually dismissed in Houghton County due to insufficient evidence linking them to the remains found. Despite their arrest, incriminating statements did not lead to a successful prosecution.

An examination prompted by the sheriff’s office indicated that Chester likely suffered from severe neglect, as suggested by the condition of his teeth and the bone malformations, which might stem from past injuries or infections. The sheriff’s office noted that Chester’s adoptive parents passed away in 1988.

The local sheriff’s office communicated that there will not be any further legal action regarding this case.

A funeral Mass took place at St. Peter of Alcantara Church in Port Washington, Wisconsin, and was followed by a burial service at a nearby cemetery. The event was attended by community members and law enforcement personnel, with a children’s choir performing hymns. The Rev. Patrick Wendt expressed gratitude to those present for their support, emphasizing the importance of surrounding Chester with care and compassion that he lacked in his brief life.

A local church generously provided the burial site, while area businesses contributed the modest white casket and grave marker to honor the child’s memory.

Records from Michigan’s adoption files in the 1950s, accessed via a court order, indicated that Chester’s biological mother was Josephine Breiney, with no information available about his father. The sheriff’s office noted that Breiney passed away in 2001 and that there are no surviving relatives.

Requests for further comments or details from investigators did not receive a response on the day of the burial.

The sheriff’s office remarked that Chester can now rest peacefully, as the circumstances surrounding his death have finally been unveiled. They added that “no child should leave this Earth like Chester did.”