RCMP search for more remains in Banff after human skull found
Posted Aug 20, 2013 6:34 pm.
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The RCMP’s Forensic Identification and Major Crimes Units continue to search an area in Banff National Park for clues following the discovery of a human skull.
Two hikers found the remains late Monday morning near the base of Cascade Mountain, about 75 metres from the TransCanada Highway.
The hikers contacted Parks Canada and Mounties about the discovery, not knowing if what they had stumbled across were bones from a person or an animal; Sergeant Patricia Neely says the skull has been positively identified as human.
On Tuesday, RCMP officers discovered more remains while searching an area of one square kilometre.
“I don’t know if we have received any confirmation on other bones, we are still searching,” she says. “Our Special Tactical Operations team was on scene conducting a forensic search of the area.”
The Calgary Medical Examiner’s office continues to work to identify the remains, but investigators are working off the presumption that all remains are human.
Neely says the RCMP will cross reference the skull and remains with missing persons reports and dental records to help make a positive identification.
She says it’s a slow process right now because the remains could have floated from upstream or been moved by another person or animal in the area.
