More than 29 years after the remains of a man were found in the Niagara River his identity has been positively confirmed.
In June 1995, Niagara Regional Police recovered the remains from the river in Niagara Falls. There was an autopsy, but the man was never positively identified, and he remained known as John Doe.
Police were contacted by the DoeNetwork in 2023 for a possible match. After forensic samples, the remains were positively identified over the summer this year ahead of Thursday’s announcement.
Investigators were able to obtain DNA samples from members of the missing man’s family and submitted them to the RCMP for profiling and comparison.
This summer, the remains were positively identified as belonging to the missing man. The man’s family has been notified, and they are planning to place a headstone on their father’s grave here in Canada, police said.
Police said the family has expressed their appreciation for the commitment of the police and the involved agencies both here and in the United States. The family has, however, requested the man’s name not be disclosed.
The family plans to place a headstone on the grave in Canada.
In a news release, the police said the case highlights the need for co-operation and communication between officials on both sides of the border in such investigations.
