Investigators on both sides of the border have used medical records to solve the mystery of skeletal human remains found by a hiker near Malott, Wash. in 2008.
The remains were found to be those of Miguel Joao Goncalves, born in 1961, of Keremeos, who was reported missing in November 2007. Foul play is not suspected in his death, the RCMP said.
Osoyoos RCMP were first made aware of this case in March 2012 and have for the past year investigated in co-operation with the Okanogan County Sherriff’s department.
A medical examiner could only confirm they were those of a male aged between 20 and 50 who had undergone a surgical procedure where a trochanteric nail and end cap were implanted – a medical procedure used to treat bone fractures.
Police were unable to learn the identity of the man through lot numbers from the manufacturer.
A year after RCMP first became aware of the Washington file, an investigator with the B.C. Police Missing Persons Centre was reviewing missing persons cases from the South Okanagan area.
The investigator recalled the case of Goncalves and that he had a similar medical implant and the information was forwarded to U.S. investigators and medical examiner.
A forensic anthropologist was able to confirm that the remains were in fact those of Goncalves. His family has been informed of the discovery.
The case highlights the strong working relationship between the B.C. RCMP and its U.S. counterparts and also underlines that cases are never closed until they are solved, said RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.
“It’s a good news story that we were able to let a mother and a family have some closure on their missing loved one,” said Sgt. Kevin Schur, Area Commander, Osoyoos RCMP Detachment.