Press Article
Community Mourns as Remains of 7-Year-Old Boy Laid to Rest After Decades of Tragedy
PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (AP) — A tragic chapter in an unresolved mystery came to a close on Friday, as the remains of 7-year-old Chester Breiney—formerly known as Markku Jutila—were buried in a heartfelt ceremony. The boy, who disappeared in 1959, was confirmed through DNA testing to have been buried in a culvert in Ozaukee County after being reported missing.
Chester’s adoptive parents were charged in 1966 regarding his death, but the case ultimately faced dismissal due to insufficient evidence linking them to his skeletal remains. Reports revealed that Chester endured significant neglect, indicated by the state of his teeth and bone health, likely the result of trauma or infection.
A funeral Mass held at St. Peter of Alcantara Church gathered a community of local law enforcement and residents, who came together to honor a life cut tragically short. The Rev. Patrick Wendt expressed gratitude to attendees for their love and support, providing Chester the compassion he lacked during his life. A local church generously offered a burial plot, while businesses contributed a small white casket and grave marker.
Chester’s biological mother, Josephine Breiney, was identified through newly retrieved adoption records, with no known details about his father. Chester’s adoptive parents passed away in 1988, and the sheriff’s office announced that there will be no future prosecutions in this case.
As Chester is laid to rest, the Ozaukee County sheriff’s office remarked, “No child should leave this Earth like Chester did,” underscoring the community’s continued quest for justice and healing. Further inquiries regarding the case have yet to elicit responses from investigators.
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Photo credit kstp.com
