Webb Hill mystery continues with no solution
David House | Staff Writer

Many local residents still remember when a skeleton was found in 1998 near the top of Webb Hill. Since the time of the forensic testing, not much has been done that has furthered the progress of the case. That is, until last year.


Many local residents still remember when a skeleton was found in 1998 near the top of Webb Hill.

Three teenagers found the remains in a cave, and a flurry of activity ensued in the following months in an effort to identify the body of the deceased. The skeletal remains were sent to the University of Utah for forensic testing. The conclusion of the results were that it was the body of a young male, about 15 or 16 years old, who died around 80-90 years ago. There has been no conclusive evidence offered yet as to the cause of death.

Since the time of the forensic testing, not much has been done that has furthered the progress of the case. That is, until last year.

Dr. Max Root said he was in his office overlooking the St. George valley and across to Webb Hill when he had a sudden premonition to get involved and help find the identity of the mysterious young man whose remains had been found in 1998.

“I just knew I had to help out in any way I could with this investigation,” Root said.

He then contacted Todd Gadler, a private investigator who had been donating time on the case since it opened. Together, Root and Gadler have been trying to solve the case.

With Root as the primary financial banker and Gadler as the public relations man, the two men have designed a form of investigation that has, up to this time, never been done, Root said. They have compiled all the evidence and data of the case onto a website for the general public to view. The public is given all the evidence of the case to peruse as well as a space to respond to the investigation and give any information that may be helpful in solving the mystery.

Root said this may be the first time that an investigation has been attempted in this fashion. He also said continued interest is the key to solving the case. Due to the website, the case is continuing to gain interest both on a local and national level.

Scott Woodward, for example, is one of the interested parties. Root said he contacted Woodward because he works in DNA testing at Brigham Young University. He is famed with the DNA matching of some of the Dead Sea Scrolls. As a result of the website and contact from Root, Woodward now wants to do DNA testing on the remains found on Webb Hill. He is now waiting for the remains to be sent to him.

Root said after the DNA tests are complete, the website will allow interested parties to post their family’s pedigree charts on the site. The DNA scientists will then consider the most likely person on the pedigree for a DNA match. That person can get his or her DNA tested and sent to the lab for a comparison.

Allowing the public to compare DNA seems like searching for a needle in a haystack, but there are several deeply interested local families that willing to take that chance. Root said if a DNA match is found, it will not only open doors for more investigations of this kind, but a family will also be found for the boy who died alone on the top of Webb Hill.

For more information in the case, visit www.webbhill.com.

http://z13.invisionfree.com/PorchlightUSA/...opic=4150&st=0&

http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/692umut.html

Unidentified White Male


The victim was discovered on December 7, 1998 in Webb Hill in St. George, Utah
Estimated Date of Death: Between 1914 - 1925
Skeletal Remains


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Vital Statistics


Estimated age: 15.5 - 16.5 years old
Approximate Height and Weight: 5'4 - 5'6"
Distinguishing Characteristics: Mostly Caucasian with some Native features. Partially healed left hand fracture. A thirteenth right rib. A well-developed right arm showed extensive use and indicates he most likely was a heavy industry worker.
Dentals: Available. Tobacco staining on his teeth indicates he was a smoker or tobacco user.
Clothing: Clothing associated with remains include 2 shirts, a jacket, denim pants, Marshall field's boots, and three blankets. Boots and denim clothing date to the turn of the century. The number 816 is stamped on the inside cotton liner of the right boot.

Boots, Pants & Shirt



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Case History
The victim was located in the Webb Hill area of St.George, Utah, in a cave. His boots had low wear, suggesting he may have traveled by horse, rather than on foot. He had an active pulmonary infection at the time of his death, perhaps contributing to it. No personal possessions were found on his person, or around the site where he located. Local newspapers were combed for missing persons during that time period. None were found.



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Investigators
If you have any information about this case please contact:
St. George Police Department
435-634-5000
You may remain anonymous when submitting information.

Source Information:
The Mystery at Webb Hill: An Online Investigation to Find the Truth

update

Unidentified White Male

* The victim was discovered on December 7, 1998 in Webb Hill in St. George, Utah
* Estimated Date of Death: Between 1914 - 1925
* Skeletal Remains

Vital Statistics

* Estimated age: 15.5 - 16.5 years old
* Approximate Height and Weight: 5'4 - 5'6"
* Distinguishing Characteristics: Mostly Caucasian with some Native features. Partially healed left hand fracture. A thirteenth right rib. A well-developed right arm showed extensive use and indicates he most likely was a heavy industry worker.
* Dentals: Available. Tobacco staining on his teeth indicates he was a smoker or tobacco user.
* DNA: Available
* Clothing: Clothing associated with remains include 2 shirts, a jacket, denim pants, Marshall field's boots, and three blankets. Boots and denim clothing date to the turn of the century. The number 816 is stamped on the inside cotton liner of the right boot.



Case History
The victim was located in the Webb Hill area of St.George, Utah, in a cave. His boots had low wear, suggesting he may have traveled by horse, rather than on foot. He had an active pulmonary infection at the time of his death, perhaps contributing to it. No personal possessions were found on his person, or around the site where he located. Local newspapers were combed for missing persons during that time period. None were found.

Investigators
If you have any information about this case please contact:
St. George Police Department
435-634-5000
You may remain anonymous when submitting information.

Source Information:
The Mystery at Webb Hill: An Online Investigation to Find the Truth
5KSL 9/13/04
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/692umut.html