Office of the Premier
The BC Coroners Service and RCMP are asking for your help to solve a nearly 35-year-old mystery involving a woman whose remains were recovered from Burrard Inlet.
On the morning of Dec. 12, 1985, a crane operator at Versatile Shipyards spotted a body floating in the inlet. The body of an older Caucasian female was later recovered. Post-mortem investigations determined that the woman, believed to be between the ages of 55 and 70, had drowned.
Other physical details are as follows:
- Caucasian female: 170 cm (5'6") in height;
- blue eyes with recently dyed blond hair; and
- two notable scars on the abdomen, including a 12.7cm (5") vertical scar (mid-abdomen) and a 5cm (2") lateral scar on the right side of the abdomen (her appendix had been previously removed);
- upper row of teeth replaced by dentures and lower row of teeth missing; and
- severe curving of the spine, consistent with scoliosis.
At the time of her death, she was wearing maroon pants (size 16, Sears brand), a long-sleeved black button-up blouse over a white turtleneck, a green wool vest with brown buttons, a grey wool winter hip-length coat and white dress gloves. The woman wore black zippered rubber boots. The label inside each boot had the word "Bella" written in blue pen.
Aside from clothing, a number of other distinct personal effects were recovered, including a good-luck horseshoe and a pair of gold earrings. To view images of these, with a composite facial sketch that was done at the time, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/coroners-service/special-investigations-unit/unidentified-cases/1985-0220-0978
Anyone with information that may help identify this individual is asked to contact either the North Vancouver RCMP at 604 985-1311, or the BC Coroners Service Special Investigations Unit (toll-free) at 1 877 660-5077 or by email: bccs.siu@gov.bc.ca
Learn More:
BC Coroners Service Unidentified Human Remains Interactive Viewer Tool (Case #: 1985-0220-0978):
https://governmentofbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1a60c24b82ed41699d8a55338fb11076
