The Yukon’s chief coroner has released more details about the human remains found at Lake Laberge earlier this month.
Kirsten Macdonald says she still doesn’t know whose body was found on the east shore of the lake near Whitehorse on May 9 but is hopeful that the public might recognize something about the man.
Macdonald released photos of the man’s clothing from when his body was found. He was wearing three pairs of heavy wool socks under his steel-toed work boots. It’s also believed he was wearing three long sleeve shirts that were found near the body. It’s not uncommon for water currents to remove clothing, she said.
The man had size 12 Banana Republic tan pants, 30-inch waist black Fox brand outer pants and CLC work gloves that were camouflage on the back with black palms. He had a SHIV brand knife on his belt with black meshed sheath.
“We know this person was dressed warmly - layered clothing, gloves, wool socks, insulated work boots,” Macdonald told reporters in an email.
“This circumstantial evidence may suggest (his death) was end of summer or fall time.
So far she hasn’t been able to pin down a more specific time of death than that.
“Given that he was in the water a prolonged time, with the effects of cold water and ice - it is very difficult to determine a date of death,” she said.
Macdonald said the man is between 30 and 40 years old, 165 cm tall and about 60 kg.
He was “probably Caucasian,” but also could have been of Asian or First Nations descent.
One of his upper molars had been pulled. The gap may have been visible at the corner of the mouth when he smiled, she said.
“It is my hope that we will be able to find someone in the public who maybe knew this person, employed this person, saw him or talked to him before his death.”
Anyone with information about this case is being asked to call the RCMP or the Yukon coroners office.
Contact Ashley Joannou at
ashleyj@yukon-news.com