An exhaustive investigation has uncovered the identity of the body discovered last summer.
The BC Coroners Service confirmed the identity of a male found deceased in a wooded area near Williams Lake on Aug. 24, 2011 as that of Dennis Russell Meleta.
Meleta was about 36 years old at the time of his death, which is believed to have occurred about a decade before his discovery by a mountain biker two kilometres north of the Esler area.
The post-mortem investigation was completed with assistance from the Williams Lake RCMP detachment, Vancouver Police Department's Forensic Identification Section, the B.C. Police Missing Persons Centre and the Ontario Provincial Police's Missing Persons/Unidentified Bodies Unit.
Identification was obtained through the use of advanced fingerprint techniques and a thorough scene and post-mortem investigation have ruled out foul play in Meleta's death.
Melata's family has been notified of the positive identification and investigators are attempting to learn more about his activities prior to his death. Anyone who had interaction with Meleta is asked to contact the BC Coroners Service at 604-660-5077.
