DNA has helped West Nipissing Ontario Provincial Police identify a body found on Lac Clair Road near Field in 2010.
The body was found by a member of the public on Sept. 2, 2010, and was initially investigated by the West Nipissing Police Service. Lac Clair Road runs north off Highway 17 and connects to Highway 64.
The investigation was subsequently taken over by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) when the Nipissing West Service amalgamated with the provincial police service.
“The post-mortem examination found no signs of foul play, but the man had no ID and could not be identified,” the OPP said in a press release. “Missing person reports and fingerprint records were checked across Canada and the United States, and details were also released to the media.”
Police also released a facial reconstruction of the person, but to no avail.
Then in 2023, police tried something new. In conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner, the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service and the Toronto Police Service, and with support of the provincial Crown attorney, advanced DNA testing, known as Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) testing or forensic genealogy, was used to try to identify the body.
“Through whole genome sequencing, the samples matched one collected from an individual listed in a family DNA tree,” police said. “These results were then confirmed by additional family DNA testing by the OCC and OFPS.”
Testing confirmed the identity of the body as a male was born in 1964, who had been living in then Windsor area prior to his death. The question remains of how he came to be found deceased on a remote road in Northern Ontario.
Investigators and victim services have spoken with the individual's family, police said.
“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.”
