After nearly three decades, advanced DNA technology has cut through the shadows of an enduring mystery, providing a name to skeletal remains found in Plymouth Township. As reported by ClickOnDetroit, the human remains discovered in 1997, wrapped in a carpet, have been identified as those of Benjamin Harrison Fountain, born May 6, 1926.
Unearthed in a field off Haggerty Road, the case remained cold while police and investigators probed for answers. With no match found in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) even after testing in 2015, the victim's identity eluded authorities. Wrapped in that same mystery carpet, found by a prospective property buyer, was a variety of personal items and a .357 slug, which posited the grim truth of a homicide. In a narrative complicated by time, there was one constant - the diligent search for a name and the story behind the man.
Forensic company Othram joined efforts with the Plymouth Township Police Department in 2022, as covered by FOX 2 Detroit. Their laboratory in Texas performed Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing, revealing the victim's African ancestry and enabling the assembly of potential family connections. This scientific turning point was pivotal in moving the case out of the shadows of anonymity. A DNA sample from a potential relative confirmed Fountain’s identity.
"He served in World War II after being drafted," FOX 2 Detroit highlighted Fountain's military service, which joined the pieces of his life before the unknown chapter that led to his anonymous death. Though his end came under brutal and mysterious circumstances, possibly decades before the 1997 discovery, Fountain’s remains were respectfully interred at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery in Brownstown as of May 16.
Despite the closure brought by a name, the story's pages remain rattled by questions. As Forensic Magazine details, investigators continue to pursue the case, urging anyone with information to step forward and contact Plymouth Township Police at (734) 354-3250. The recently identified Fountain, if not for his untimely death, would have seen the world change immeasurably since his birth in Virginia, before moving to West Virginia and ultimately Detroit. The story of Benjamin Harrison Fountain, lost but now named, is a reminder of the unyielding quest for justice and resolution, even when faced with the silent testament of bones.
