By using advanced DNA testing, a historic case of a man whose body was found in a remote area of Laurentian Hills in 2001 has now been identified to have been born in Drumheller.
On September 5, 2001, members of the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP responded when a man’s body was located in an outhouse at a remote cross-country ski shelter. It appeared as though the individual had been using the outhouse for shelter for some time.
While the post-mortem examination at the time was able to determine that the individual had died as a result of a medical condition with no foul play, the person’s identity could not be confirmed.
Missing person reports and fingerprint records were checked with law enforcement and other agencies across Canada and the United States. Details were also released to the media.
According to a release, the OPP, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC), Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS) and the provincial Crown Attorney used advanced DNA testing, known as Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) testing or Forensic Genealogy. Through whole genome sequencing, the samples matched one collected from an individual listed in a family DNA tree. These results were then confirmed by additional family DNA testing by the OCC and OFPS.
The testing has confirmed that the body is that of a man from Drumheller, born in 1962. It’s not known why he was in the area.
Investigators and Victim Services have spoken with the individual’s family, and as the matter did not involve foul play, and out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be releasing the male’s name.
