Yukon RCMP are investigating partial human remains found in an industrial area outside of Watson Lake over the weekend.
Police were reluctant to provide many details Monday.
The remains were discovered around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Police wouldn’t say how the discovery was made or who found the remains.
Yukon RCMP Staff Sgt. Brad Kaeding told reporters the police were withholding some information in case the death turns out to be criminal.
“There are many things we can’t confirm simply because if it turns out to be a major crime, then we do want to make sure the information we get in is not the information that has already been put out,” he said.
Police dog services, search and rescue, and major crimes personnel have been sent to Watson Lake.
The gender and cause of death of the person whose remains were found are unknown at this time.
“Those are two keys questions we’re hoping to find an answer to fairly quickly,” Kaeding said.
Yukon RCMP are also working to determine whether the remains could be from a missing person. They’re contacting other RCMP detachments across the country.
“At this point it’s a bit of a mystery of what we’ve got and who’s involved,” Kaeding said.
Yukon Chief Coroner Kirsten Macdonald, who was present at the press conference, told media an autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.
On top of a forensic pathologist, Yukon Coroner’s Service brought in a forensic anthropologist.
“His examination will hopefully provide more information,” she said.
According to Simon Fraser University’s website, forensic anthropologists identify human remains by constructing a biological profile of the person. They can also analyze potential injuries to determine the person’s cause of death.
Anybody with information is asked to contact Wastson Lake RCMP at 867‐536‐5555.
Contact Pierre Chauvin at
pierre.chauvin@yukon-news.com.