SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The father of a missing Dettah man says he believes his son is dead and his soul is now with the Lord.

James Lynn, father of missing Dettah man Mark Lynn, sits in his home in Dettah. The elder Lynn said he believes his son is dead although that has not been confirmed by RCMP or the NWT Coroner's Office. Bone fragments found in Dettah last week are awaiting identification. Police have not linked them to Mark Lynn. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo

James Lynn, pastoral leader of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church in Dettah, said he believes his son Mark Lynn, 21, has been dead for more than a week now.

Lynn was reported missing on Aug. 28, according to RCMP. He was last seen in Dettah on Aug. 24, possibly near the community's lagoon.

RCMP reported in a news release Friday that bone fragments and other evidence had been found in the area of Dettah. Police did not link the bone fragments to the missing man. They stated the fragments were handed over to the NWT Coroner's Office.

Cathy Menard, chief coroner for the NWT, said the bone fragments are currently being analyzed to determine whether they are human. She said it will be up to two months before results are in.

Lynn said he is confident his son is not alive somewhere.

"I've known for over a week because the Lord told me," said Lynn. "My son phoned me ... And said, 'Dad, I'm at the lagoon - if you don't see me in the next 10 minutes - you may never see me alive again.'

"I've heard that message many times before. I didn't hear from him anymore. I was at the lagoon where the kids party. I honked the horn and there was no response. I went out later to see if I could find anything ... When I was out there searching the Lord simply said to me, 'He is home safe with me. He's alright - he's OK.'"

Lynn said once the evidence started coming in and RCMP came to his house to say bone fragments had been found, that just confirmed for him that his son was deceased.

Lynn said there is still a mystery surrounding exactly how Mark died.

"As I listen to the aboriginal people who did a phenomenal job of the search and gave us the closure that we needed - they feel he was attacked by a bear. Was he living or dead at that time? I have no idea," said Lynn.

He said searchers told him a pack of wolves subsequently came along and pulled the body away from the bear. He added the bones were found near a wolf den.

Lynn said his theory has not been confirmed to him by RCMP - it is simply a theory he has put together from what he knows and what he has been told by members of the community.

Lynn said RCMP called him Tuesday and wanted his son's dental records to help identify the bones that have been found.

Police tight-lipped

RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon stated by e-mail that for investigative reasons, police will not be providing any additional details as to any items or evidence that has been found.

"As to the search efforts, RCMP have an active and open investigation to Mark Lynn's disappearance," York-Condon stated.

"Members of the general investigative section assisted community members that were heading out to search by providing maps and advising what areas had already been searched by RCMP, including areas that a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone) searched."

York-Condon stated RCMP are working with the coroner to try to determine whether the bone fragments are human.

Lynn said he is well past holding out hope the remains found are those of somebody other than his son.

Lynn concedes his son was facing charges of assault and uttering threats directed at himself and his wife at the time of his disappearance. He said he doesn't think, however, that the charges are what led to his son's death. Rather, it was losing his job at a local diamond mine that pushed him over the edge. Lynn said his son was told in mid-August not to return to work because of the charges. He declined to say which diamond mine.

Lynn said neither he nor his wife are Mark's biological parents. He was adopted by the couple at birth.

"He lived with us his whole life until last April when he was charged and ordered not to have contact with us. He was then on the streets," said Lynn.

"I firmly believe that if he had been able to keep his job and stay at the mine - he would still be alive."

A Feeding the Fire ceremony in honour of Mark Lynn was to be held last evening in Dettah.

- with files from Shane Magee

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