A joint investigation by the Yukon Coroner’s Service and the RCMP Historic Case Unit (HCU) has led to the identification of the human remains located in Lake Laberge in 2016, police said Friday afternoon.

The deceased was Nathan Eugene Hine, who would have been 32 years old at the time his remains were recovered.

Hine was originally from Alberta, but of no fixed address at the time of his death. Historic case investigators have confirmed he had been in the Yukon from May to November 2015.

Police were called to the lake north of Whitehorse on May 9, 2016 when a resident found the remains of an adult male washed ashore.

This led to an intensive investigation by the Coroner’s Service and the Whitehorse RCMP.

No identification was located with the body. Aerial, water and ground searches of the area failed to offer any clues as to his identity.

An autopsy and a full forensic anthropological analysis was performed in Vancouver with no conclusive cause of death or further information regarding identity.

Comparisons of the DNA profile, fingerprints and missing person reports, both nationally and internationally, did not yield any results.

The Yukon RCMP’s newly formed HCU took over the investigation in 2019.

In the fall of 2020, Texas-based Othram Inc. was engaged to conduct advanced forensic DNA analysis.

Further investigation with relatives in Saskatchewan was conducted and revealed an absent family member.

On June 1, the Coroner’s Service and HCU were able to confirm identity by way of DNA comparison.

Anyone who knew or had contact with Hine in 2015 is asked to call or email the RCMP Historic Case tip line, 667-5588, MDIV_HCU@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

The Coroner’s Service and the RCMP thank the local investigators who assisted on the file since May 2016, the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains, Othram Inc., and the many family members who assisted us in the investigation.

“Our collaboration has been able to provide long-awaited answers and information to Mr. Hine’s family and the Whitehorse community,” the agencies said in a statement.