GUILTY ID - Lavina Hietala, 72, Kamiah, 1 April 2011

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http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/119419584.html

ISP: Missing woman's grandson now 'person of interest' 4
Share By KBOI Web Staff
Story Created: Apr 7, 2011 at 12:53 PM MDT
Story Updated: Apr 7, 2011 at 12:55 PM MDT

KAMIAH, Idaho - Idaho State Police have identified a person of interest into the disappearance into a 72-year-old Idaho woman.
Click to expand...

110407_Lavina_Hietala.jpg
 
Investigators think missing Kamiah woman ended up in Clearwater River

KAMIAH - Investigators say the search for 72-year-old Lavina Hietala of Kamiah is likely a search for her body. They said evidence shows she probably ended up in the Clearwater River.

Also, information from Lewis County Court files indicate that in June of 2009, Justin Hietala, Lavina's grandson, pleaded guilty to charges of battery against her.

More at link:
http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/119819389.html


Praying Lavina is found soon. Finding her alive would be a true miracle, at this point.
 
More people than you may think vanish every year in and around Idaho

[snip]

At about the same time Evans’ bone was found, a Kamiah woman was added to the list under “endangered.” Lavina Hietala disappeared from her home April 1.

Idaho State Police Lt. Charlie Spencer said investigators have evidence that Hietala “ended up” in the Clearwater River, which is less than a half-mile from her home.

“We have not ruled out foul play,” Spencer said via email. “We have gathered evidence in this case. However, we really don’t know what it means and may not know until we find Lavina.”

Spencer said he couldn’t release details on why investigators believe Hietala is in the river.

He said Hietala’s grandson, Justin Hietala, is a “person of interest” because he lived with her. He is in jail, accused of burglarizing a local business.

“We have talked with him, and he has been unable to provide us with any information leading to Lavina’s location,” Spencer said. “We don’t have any suspects in this case so far.

“Once we find Lavina then we will have a better idea of what occurred. Until then we really don’t know what happened.”
​
 
Body recovered in Snake River believed to be that of Hietala

Idaho State Police investigators have tentatively identified a body found in the Snake River as Lavina I. Hietala of Kamiah.

Fishermen discovered the badly decomposed body May 1 approximately one mile east of the Central Ferry Bridge in Garfield County, Wash.

Source: https://www.clearwaterprogress.com/

I find it perplexing that if this is Lavina, as to why it would be badly decomposed, after being missing for one month. This area has had very cool temperatures since that time with the exception of possibly 2 days, with temps above 60 degrees. Unless she was placed in the river after decomposition had already began.

Maybe my thinking is flawed but I was under the impression that decomp was fairly slow in cold water. Hmmm ...
 
The Idaho State Police laboratory has confirmed through DNA testing that the body recovered on May 1, 2011 from the Snake River by Garfield County Sheriffs Office is Lavina I. Hietala.

Investigators are waiting for the medical examiners report for determination of the cause of death.

Hietalas family members have been notified and continue to work with the Idaho State Police in this investigation.

Anyone who may have any information in this case is encouraged to contact ISP Sergeant Ed Westbrook at (208) 799-5020, or by email at ed.westbrook@isp.idaho.gov.

http://idahostatepolice.blogspot.com/

Such a tragic end to a senior citizen's life. Praying the perpetrator of Ms. Hietala's murder is found and that justice is served.
 
From December 2011:

http://lmtribune.com/shame-on-you-s...cle_e6883f91-bef6-5974-913f-a3713f3b8d62.html

A 27-year-old Kamiah man was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday for burglary and failing to report the death of his grandmother, whose body turned up in the Snake River in May...

Hietala was charged in connection with the death of Lavina Hietala, 72, whose body was discovered along the Snake River May 1, a month after her death, by fishermen in Garfield County.

An autopsy confirmed the body was Lavina Hietala, but no cause of death could be determined because of the deterioration of the corpse.
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