The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a male found deceased in Vancouver in 1975.

After an exhaustive post-mortem investigation and with assistance from Vancouver Police Missing Persons Unit, Burnaby RCMP Missing Persons Unit and the BC Police Missing Persons Centre, the man was determined to be Roy Lynn Howe.

His body was recovered in Vancouver in July 1975, and transported to Saint Paul’s Hospital for further forensic examination. The body remained unidentified, even after extensive efforts by police and coroners.

Mr. Howe, who was aged 26 at the time of his disappearance, was eventually reported missing to the RCMP in 2008.

The identification was made possible by modern forensic analysis, in combination with the application of an enhanced identification model developed locally by the Identification and Disaster Response Unit of the BC Coroners Service.

The family of Mr. Howe has been notified of his death. On their behalf, the BC Coroners Service asks that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time.

Media Contacts:

Bill Inkster
Coroner, Identification and Disaster Response Unit
BC Coroners Service
604 258-8743