Kyllikki Saari’s Bog Grave Memorial

The murder of 17-year-old Kyllikki Saari in Isojoki on May 17, 1953, remains one of Finland’s most famous unsolved cases. She disappeared while cycling home from a devotional gathering, and her body was found in a bog grave in October 1953. Despite extensive investigations, the murderer was never identified.

Saari was buried on October 25, 1953, in Isojoki churchyard. Her funeral drew around 25,000 mourners—over four times the population of Isojoki at the time—making it one of the most significant funerals in Finland’s history.

Her bog grave memorial, located along Regional Road 661 toward Kauhajoki, still attracts many visitors. The site features a commemorative stone with a copper plaque, erected in 1987 by her sister Alli Hernesharju and her family.

More information about Kyllikki Saari’s case can be found on Wikipedia.