BC Coroners Service confirms identity of person found by tourist near Nelson
By Nelson Daily Staff
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a male who was found deceased on a rock ledge overlooking Kootenay Lake near Nelson on July 23 as Dana Nicholas Mitchell of Cranbrook.
Mitchell went missing in the autumn of 2010 and is believed to have died at approximately that time.
He would have been 22 years old at the time of his death.
In July a tourist from Europe found human remains, now confirmed to be those of Mitchell, on the rock ledge off the Rails to Trails trail near the Svoboda Road entrance in northeast Nelson.
The BC Coroners Service continues to investigate this death, however, foul play has now been ruled out.
The family of Mitchell has been notified of his death.
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Human remains found near Nelson
Police believe they know the identity of human remains found near Nelson, but won’t be releasing any names until positive ID is confirmed and next of kin is notified, according to RCMP Const. Colleen Lowing.
“On July 23, Nelson RCMP were advised of some human remains in the forested area between Bealby Point Road and the Rails to Trails near Red Sands Beach on the edge of Nelson,” Lowing said.
“Around 5 p.m., Nelson RCMP and the BC Coroners service, with the assistance of Nelson Search and Rescue were able to retrieve the remains.”
Police said the body was found in a deep ravine at approximately 1 p.m. by a tourist from Europe hiking and rock climbing in the area.
Search and Rescue was called in to drop BC Coroners officials down into the ravine.
Police said identification was found on the body.
“(The ID suggests) the remains may be the those of a 27-year-old male from the Cranbrook area,” she said. “It is believed that the body has been there for several years.
“The name is not being released until identification can be confirmed and next of kin can be notified.”
Lowing said foul play is not suspected.
The BC Coroners Service, with the assistance of the Nelson RCMP are continuing their investigation.
