Body of 26-year-old B.C. man finally identified after four decades: coroner

VANCOUVER – The body of an unknown man found in Vancouver almost four decades ago has finally been identified.

Coroner Bill Inkster says the body was recovered in July 1975 and transported to Saint Paul's Hospital for a forensic examination.

Inkster says despite extensive efforts by police and coroners, the man's body remained unidentified.

He says Roy Howe was eventually reported missing to the RCMP who were told in 2008 that he was 26 years old when he disappeared.

Inkster says modern forensics and enhanced identification tools developed by the corner service's disaster response unit finally linked the body and Howe.

He says the exhaustive post-mortem investigation was assisted by Vancouver police and RCMP missing persons units.