|
CRIME STOPPERS NEWS RELEASE Contact: Nebraska Crime Stoppers 1-800-422-1494
INFORMATION ON DISAPPEARANCE SOUGHT
Nebraska Crime Stoppers and the Dawes County Crime Stoppers are seeking information pertaining to the disappearance and remains recovery of local Chadron resident and former Chadron State College Assistant Math Professor Dr. Steven Haataja.
Dr. Haataja, 46, was raised in Spearfish South Dakota, and completed his doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in August 2006. He was hired in July of 2006 in the math department at Chadron State College. Dr. Haataja instructed classes for nearly a semester before his reported disappearance on the 4th of December 2006.
An investigation was conducted into his reported disappearance by local law enforcement. Despite several searches conducted throughout the immediate Chadron and Dawes County areas in the weeks following Haataja’s disappearance, no trace of his whereabouts was found.
On March 11, 2007 Dawes County Attorney, Vance Haug indicated that an autopsy performed in Scottsbluff, Nebraska on a body recovered in rural Dawes County on Friday March 9th was positively identified as that of Dr. Haataja. Haug indicated that further forensic testing was being conducted at that time.
In a prepared statement released Wednesday March 14th, Haug advised, “due to unusual circumstances and the condition in which the body was found, law enforcement is treating this case with an abundance of caution and is investigating it as a homicide.”
Haug also stated that the Nebraska State Patrol, Dawes County Sheriff’s Office and the Chadron Police Department are requesting and welcome citizen input and information that may be helpful. Individuals that want to remain anonymous may direct calls to the Chadron Crime Stoppers hotline at 308-432-0519 or the Nebraska Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-1494. Internet tips may be submitted and the tipsters will remain anonymous at http://www.nebraskacrimestoppers.com.
Haataja (pictured below) stood about 6-feet, 4-inches tall and weighed approximately 230 pounds. He had graying brown hair, brown eyes and wore glasses.

|