County attorney gives update on Haataja case

Haug addressed a crowd of about 70 people on the Dawes County Courthouse steps. The 35-minute press conference was attended by members of the media from at least three states, Chadron State personnel and other community members.

Haug outlined Haataja’s known whereabouts Dec. 4, 2006, the day the professor went missing, and gave details of the scene where the body was discovered March 9.

Haug confirmed that Haataja had been “burned head to toe,” and was bound to a tree with wrappings around his ankles and torso. His hands were not bound. Also found at the scene were an unopened bottle of water, a plastic “Tupperware-like” container, the charred remains of a flashlight and an unidentifiable “glob of plastic.”

Also, Haug said a 375-millileter bottle of peppermint schnapps liquor was found mostly empty at the scene, and that autopsy reports revealed that Haataja, known by acquaintances to be a “social drinker” instead of a “problem drinker,” had been “drinking quite a bit” before his death. No DNA besides Haataja’s was found on the bottle, Haug said.

Haug would not identify the material used to bind him to the tree, but noted that it had not burned and was not barbed wire as some reports have indicated. Traces of an accelerant were also found.

No fingerprints or evidence that others were at the scene have been found, he said. In addition, investigators believe he died at the place he was discovered, which Haug described as an area of rolling hills about three-quarters of a mile from the professor’s office in the Math & Science Building. He said the area had been burned in the wildfires of summer 2006.

According to findings from the investigation, Haataja had a normal work day. He arrived at his office at 8 a.m. and greeted his first class at 9 a.m. At 3:30-4 p.m., he and a student scheduled a make-up test for 8:30 a.m. the next day. At 5 p.m., he was seen near Pizza Hut on West Third Street. A colleague saw Haataja back at his office around 6 p.m. A downtown Chadron automatic teller machine shows that a $100 withdrawal was taken from his account at 8:24 p.m., and a woman saw him on the street between 9-10 p.m. At 11:40 p.m., his work computer, which is password protected, was accessed.

Investigators are continuing to study Haataja’s computer, but Haug said it appears its usage was primarily related to work.

When asked about the possibility of the case being a hate crime, Haug said that there was no evidence that anyone disliked the professor, and that comments from those who knew him indicate he was heterosexual. Following the news conference, Haug told reporters that Haataja attempted suicide in January 2006.

The county attorney is hoping that information revealed at the press conference prompt others who know details about Haataja’s death to come forward. He said the investigation, which is being led by the Nebraska State Patrol with assistance from the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, continues to be treated as a homicide to ensure that all possible scenerios have been addressed. He reiterated numerous times that the case is unresolved.

Dr. Randy Rhine, Chadron State vice president for enrollment management and student services, says the college continues to be affected by the loss of Haataja.

“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to the Haataja family during this difficult time. The Chadron State College community continues to be deeply affected by the loss of Dr. Haataja. Even though he was not with us long, he was a valued part of our Chadron State family, he said. “We have cooperated fully with law enforcement throughout this investigation and will continue to do so as the investigation moves forward.”

Haataja’s funeral was Monday in Spearfish, S.D. It was attended by six members of the Chadron State math and science faculty. A quartet from the CSC music department sang at the services.

 

Related Information:

Statement from Dr. Randy Rhine, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services