More than three years after human remains were discovered at the bottom of a 250-foot cliff in southwest Utah, authorities have finally identified the man who died there.
The case began on Aug. 20, 2022, when officers responded to 1400 Red Ledge Road in Washington City and found human remains at the base of the rocky drop, the Washington City Police Department said in a recent news release.
At first, investigators could only determine that the deceased was a man believed to be between 25 and 35 years old and carrying no identification, according to a press release from Othram, a forensic genealogy company that assisted with the case.
At the time of his death, he was wearing oversized pants, a hoodie with “PPG Pittsburgh Paints” printed on the front and athletic shoes.
Lieutenant Kory Klotz of the Washington City Police Department previously told CBS affiliate KUTV that the body “had been there for some time” and was “very decomposed.”
“It was mainly just bones and some clothing fragments,” Klotz explained, adding that investigators didn’t know exactly “what transpired as far as him falling or jumping,” but that they did not suspect foul play.
The Utah Office of the Medical Examiner later concluded that the man died of blunt force trauma consistent with a fall. Despite that determination, efforts to learn his identity stalled for years.
Earlier this year, after the police department secured funding for advanced DNA testing, Othram Laboratory was able to link the unknown man to a possible parent in Blair, Wisconsin. Investigators have now confirmed the remains belong to 51-year-old Jamie Leek, officials said.
Leek, who was born on June 15, 1973, left Wisconsin in 2017 with plans to relocate to Las Vegas, according to Othram. His family last had contact with him sometime between 2021 and 2022.
Klotz told FOX affiliate KSTU that Detective Thomas Lloyd dedicated himself to solving the case and reuniting Leek’s identity with his remains.
“Getting to talk to the victim’s mother and getting some closure there,” Klotz said. “That’s why he does the job, right?”
“At least now there’s some closure for them,” he added. “They know where Jamie is and he’s in a better place now.”
