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Unidentified body found in lake

Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 25, 2012

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Human remains were found at Giauque Lake Friday morning during an underwater search for the missing body of a 27-year-old mine worker.

The body may be that of Jaxon Smith, who disappeared in December 2007 when his SUV plunged through thin ice about 100 km north of Yellowknife. Two other men were in the Toyota Landcruiser when the incident occurred. They managed to escape but Smith, who was sitting in the backseat of the vehicle, was never found.

Smith, of Wetaskiwin, Alta., was working at the now decommissioned Discovery Mine for Vancouver-based Tyhee Development Corp., but he wasn't on the job at the time of the accident.

Smith's family and Tyhee commissioned a team from the United States to find the body, which was discovered about 51-metres deep in the lake using a remote-operated vehicle and divers. A search had been conducted after the incident but only the vehicle was found at that time.

NWT chief coroner Cathy Menard said she is unable to identify the extremely decomposed body.

"We have sent the remains (to Edmonton) for forensic identification and that will be done this week," said Menard.

The death is not considered suspicious and police are no longer investigating the incident.

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