By Canadian Press with files from Greg Fry

Coroners service launches interactive map of unidentified human remains

Mar 27, 2019 | 1:03 PM

VICTORIA —  The BC Coroners Service has launched an interactive map of unidentified human remains in an effort to generate new leads in the cases. 

The service says there are just under 200 unsolved and active cases involving unidentified human remains in British Columbia.

It says in a news release most are cold cases, with the earliest dating back to 1953.

Each entry on the map shows the approximate location where the remains were found, case numbers for contact purposes and a summary of key information related to each unresolved case.

Some have very little information while others include particular details, like one for 30- to 40-year-old man was found near Kamloops in 1983 with tattoos that say “Edna,” “Mary C,” “Love,” “Marlene,” and a crossed-out “Karene.”

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There were two cases linked to the Prince George area. One, an unknown male, was discovered on June 22, 1996 and was between the ages of 30 and 55. Another was discovered on Oct.21, 2013, another unknown male, and was from 40-60 years old.

The map was created by the service’s special investigations unit and spatial information analyst Ian Charlton.

“By reaching out and engaging members of the public with the launch of this innovative tool, it’s our hope to gain new investigative leads that will lead to the identification of these unidentified individuals and bring closure to their families,” chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says in a statement.