After over two decades, the Ontario Provincial Police has identified a man found along the shoreline just west of Amherstburg.
On May 29 2003, the man's body was recovered from the Livingston Channel Detroit River. He was never identified.
The man's DNA was submitted for investigative genetic genealogy in 2023. A presumptive ID was determined and in September 2024, a family member's DNA was used to confirm the male's identity.
He was identified at James Raymond Stewart of Detroit, Michigan who went missing in November 2002 at 48 years old.
"After two decades, we were finally able to provide this family with answers about James, thanks to investigative genetic genealogy. This investigative tool has proven to be invaluable, enabling law enforcement to solve even decades-old cases and offering hope to others facing similar circumstances. Its ability to connect distant relatives through DNA has transformed the landscape of historic homicide and unidentified human remains investigations."
The cause of his death was undetermined but police do not believe foul play was involved.