Remains confirmed
DNA testing used to determine identity of Japanese woman who vanished in 2014
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, April 15, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
"Scant" human remains found in the woods near Giant Mine last summer were those of Atsumi Yoshikubo, a Japanese tourist who went missing in October 2014.
Police have confirmed the remains of Atsumi Yoshikubo were found in a wooded area south of Giant Mine last year. |
RCMP spokesperson Const. Elenore Sturko stated in a news release Thursday that DNA forensic analysis of bone fragments confirmed her identity. The cause of death remains unclear.
The 45-year-old woman had come from Japan to visit the city and was reported missing when she didn't check out of her hotel.
Extensive searches by RCMP as well as search and rescue volunteers in the area around the Ingraham Trail, the former mine site and Yellowknife Ski Club failed to find her remains.
Then in November of 2014, police mysteriously announced Yoshikubo planned to disappear into the wilderness and took steps to avoid being found.
Police haven't disclosed their reasons for that statement. Two Japanese media outlets reported she wrote a suicide note before leaving Japan.
On Aug. 31 last year, a resident hiking near Giant Mine called police to report what were believed to be human remains. The exact location of where the scattered bone fragments were found has not been publicly disclosed.
Police at the time said personal items found in the area belonged to Yoshikubo but a confirmation of her identity awaited testing.
"The state of these remains made conducting an autopsy impossible, and forensic testing was required to confirm the identity of the remains as Atsumi Yoshikubo," Sturko stated in the news release.
RCMP worked with Japanese officials to notify the woman's family of the results, Sturko said.
With the remains identified and case closed, police still aren't explaining it.
"I know still there could be some unanswered questions for the public but we're satisfied that our reasons for calling off the search were satisfied by the evidence that we had," Sturko said. "We haven't changed our opinion or belief about what happened based on anything new."
Police thanked the public for the help in the search for Yoshikubo.
"The people of Yellowknife were very concerned about Atsumi Yoshikubo and generous in their volunteer efforts and their co-operation was greatly appreciated," Sturko stated in the news release.
