Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 20/02) - The body of a man believed to be that of Albert Whitehead, a 30-year former resident of Yellowknife, has turned up in Washington state.

A honeymooning couple, travelling by ferry, spotted a body floating in the water off Orcas Island last Wednesday.

Weeks earlier, the sailboat Wind Lass, which belonged to Whitehead, was found washed up on the rocks about five kilometres away.

Now the sheriff's department and local coroner want to know more about the man, who left Yellowknife in 1997 after working with the territorial government for 30 years.

Police want help

The sheriff's department is working with Canadian authorities to find dental records, X-rays or fingerprints to positively identify the body.

"So if there's anyone in your area who has dental records, that would be of great assistance," said San Juan County coroner Randall Gaylord.

But the three existing dental clinics in Yellowknife have no record of Albert Whitehead.

Elizabeth Vanderkooi is Whitehead's sister-in-law, who lives in Edmonton. She said he has no remaining relatives in Yellowknife and has lived on his sailboat since retiring.

Whitehead spent most of his life in Yellowknife, she said.

"He was very easygoing," she said

"Nothing ever bothered him. It was his dream to retire and go sailing on the ocean."

San Juan County Sheriff Bill Cumming said there was a windstorm late last month, just before the sailboat was found. Results of an autopsy found the probable cause of death was drowning.

No identification was found with the body.