The process of identifying human remains after discovery is much more complicated than one might think and the BC Coroners Service has launched a new interactive tool in hopes of generating leads.
The unidentified human remains interactive viewer is a mapping-application that has spatial, temporal, and statistical information on every active, unsolved UHR investigation in B.C.
The Coroners Service says there are currently just under 200 cases that are unsolved, including two near Prince George, mostly involving cold cases that involve identifying human remains discovered.
The earliest case dates back to 1953.
“By reaching out and engaging members of the public with the launch of this innovative tool, it’s our hope to gain new investigative leads that will lead to the identification of these unidentified individuals and bring closure to their families,” Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner says in a release.
The unidentified human remains interactive viewer just released by the BC Coroners Service shows one unsolved case (blue icon) near Prince George from 2013. (via BC Coroners Service)Spatial Information Analyst with the BC Coroners Service's Special Investigations Unit, Ian Charlton, developed the tool., which will allow people to see an overview of the approximate location where remains were discovered, case numbers for contact purposes as well as a summary of the key information that is related to each unsolved case in the province.
The cases near Prince George are still unsolved from 1996 and a second from Oct. 21, 2013.
Cpl. Craig Douglass with the Prince George RCMP says a skull was found in the Pidherny area close to six years ago. There was no trace of other human remains in the area upon searching by investigators in 2013.
The interactive viewer states the case number as 2013-0742-0021 and involves a male with a minimum age of 40 to a maximum age of 60.
The post-mortem interval (PMI) is the time that has elapsed since a person has died with a PMI for this case is listed as a minimum of four years to a maximum of 50 years.
The second case is listed as a male, aged 30 to 55 from June 22, 1996 near Buckhorn.
When reached out to for information, North District RCMP says they are trying to find more details involving the case.
If you have any information and/or questions about any investigations in the UHR interactive viewer, you are asked to contact the Special Investigations Unit at 1-877-660-5077 or [email protected].
