The body found last week buried at a Dickinson construction site has been identified as Eric Haider, a worker who went missing more than three years ago in the area where the body was found, the Dickinson Police Department confirmed in a statement Friday afternoon.
Haider had been missing since May 24, 2012, after he disappeared while working at a construction site in north Dickinson. He was 30. Haider’s body was discovered during excavation for the construction of 40th Street West near the new street’s corner at Fourth Avenue West late in the evening on May 21. The body was exhumed throughout the day May 22 and was transferred to the University of North Dakota forensics lab last Friday for testing.
Positive identification was made through medical records, distinguishable tattoos and personal effects found in clothing that was on the body.
Haider’s cause of death has not been determined, according to the police.
Forensic medical examination will continue and further information will be released as it becomes available from the North Dakota State Forensic Medical Examiner’s Office.
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Haider’s mother, Maryellen Suchan, told Rapid City, S.D., TV station KOTA that her son’s body was well preserved, and his wallet and cellphone were found on the body.
Haider was a resident of Bismarck when he went missing from a nearby construction site while working for Bismarck-based Cofell’s Plumbing and Heating Inc.
An exhaustive search for Haider turned up nothing at the time. He had officially been listed as a missing person.
Jay Cofell, owner of Cofell’s Plumbing and Heating, said he was “very sorry” to hear that the body had been confirmed to be Haider.
He said his company and the employees who were working with Haider the day of his disappearance had cooperated with police investigations. He added that he hopes the confirmation helps bring closure to those close to Haider.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and those friends relatives and co-workers,” he said.
