SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A decades-old mystery has finally been resolved after the University of Utah Police confirmed the identity of remains belonging to Douglas Brick, a student who vanished without a trace in 1973.
Brick, a 21-year-old from Pocatello, Idaho, disappeared after leaving his dormitory on October 12, 1973. Despite ongoing efforts by his family to find him, his whereabouts remained unknown for over 50 years — until now.
The breakthrough came after skull fragments discovered in October 2024 near Black Mountain, approximately six miles from the iconic white “U” on the hillside, were matched via DNA testing to one of Brick’s relatives. The lab results confirmed the identity with 99.9% certainty.
The discovery was the result of renewed efforts within the University’s police department. In 2022, crime data analyst Nikol Mitchell uncovered the long-forgotten case while reviewing files through Utah’s Statewide Information and Analysis Center (SIAC). Major Heather Sturzenegger took a personal interest in reopening the case and enlisted Detective Jon Dial to lead the investigation after her promotion.
“I always believed we could solve this,” Sturzenegger said, recalling her commitment to helping the Brick family find closure.
Brick’s disappearance sparked various theories over the years, including speculation that he had chosen to start a new life abroad or that he had simply walked away from his former life. One compelling lead emerged in 2022 when Sturzenegger, during a doctor’s appointment, happened to share details of the case with her physician — who turned out to be Steve Warren, Douglas Brick’s college roommate and the very person who initially reported him missing. Warren’s memories and insights helped refocus the investigation on the foothills above campus.
Back in 2018, Douglas’ sister had submitted a DNA sample, but it did not produce any immediate leads. It wasn’t until hunters stumbled upon human remains in late 2024 that the critical breakthrough arrived. Those remains were tested at an out-of-state lab, and after months of waiting, confirmation finally came in April 2025.
The Brick family released a statement thanking the many individuals and agencies involved, including the hunters who reported the remains and the officers who never gave up on the case. “We are requesting privacy during this time of transition,” the family said.
Detective Dial and Major Sturzenegger personally traveled to California to inform the family of the discovery. Dial, who developed a deep emotional connection to the case, expressed that he felt spiritually driven to find answers for Douglas and his loved ones. “There was always this feeling that Douglas was guiding this investigation,” he said.
The case also carries a strange twist. In 1990, Douglas’ mother, Donna Brick — who passed away in 2010 — wrote in her journal about a conversation she had with a store clerk who claimed to be a psychic. The woman reportedly told her that Douglas had gone into the hills above the university, intending to end his life, but slipped in the darkness and fell.
Remarkably, Detective Dial said the treacherous terrain where the skull was found aligns with that story. “It’s incredibly steep and unstable. I struggled myself to navigate the area even in daylight,” he noted.
Although the mystery has finally been solved, the University of Utah Police plan to return to the area to conduct a more extensive search for any remaining evidence now that weather conditions have improved.
“Douglas and this investigation will stay with me forever,” Dial said.
