Police suspect man in murder of Kai Salomaa, missing for over 20 years in Karvia, Finland

Documents obtained by Yle reveal that police have suspected a man of involvement in the murder of Kai Salomaa, who disappeared over 20 years ago. The 46-year-old resident of Vaasa went missing on May 15, 2003, in Karvia, North Satakunta. The National Bureau of Investigation began treating the case as a homicide last year. Now in his fifties, the suspect was initially detained on charges of murder but has denied any wrongdoing.

Police have been trying to gather evidence against him through all available means. New information from previously confidential documents suggests that Salomaa had a criminal history, including multiple convictions for traffic and property crimes, and reportedly developed a drug problem prior to his disappearance. Family members have indicated that Salomaa expressed fears of not living much longer before he vanished.

On the night of May 13, 2003, Salomaa traveled from Vaasa to Karvia to visit a known acquaintance with a significant criminal background. The following day, he bought a Honda Civic in Laihia before his last known sighting. He reportedly left the acquaintance’s residence on May 15, and that evening, a call was made from Salomaa’s phone to the Satakunta emergency center, near where he was last seen.

Police noted a suspicious sound resembling a gunshot on the emergency call recording and have since investigated the couple who hosted Salomaa. The lead suspect, who had a rocky past, claims he was not present when Salomaa’s car returned. Meanwhile, a police dog indicated that Salomaa’s car had been used to transport a body.

The investigation remains open, and authorities continue to receive tips regarding the case. Police stress the importance of finding Salomaa’s remains to progress with the investigation.