Remains found in Arctic Bay those of missing 14-year-old boy, police say

Human remains found in Arctic Bay over the weekend are those of a 14-year-old boy who went missing in June, the RCMP said Tuesday.

Police got a report Saturday at 4:17 p.m. that remains had been found on the shore near the hamlet’s 200 block, RCMP said in a news release.

Officers retrieved the remains and were able to confirm they were those of a 14-year-old boy first reported missing on June 30, the release said

While the RCMP did not identify the boy on Tuesday, the police reported in June that they were looking for 14-year-old Richard Bohlender Jr., also known as Jaaji. He was last seen in Arctic Bay on June 28 and was reported missing two days later.

On July 3, the RCMP asked for the community’s help to locate the boy, while a search co-ordinated by ground search and rescue volunteers, Canadian Rangers, the RCMP and Nunavut Emergency Management was already underway.

Police dogs and aerial drones were flown in to aid in the search, but to no avail.

The search was suspended on July 9. RCMP said at the time that the investigation would continue, but there was nothing to indicate the teen’s disappearance should be treated as a criminal matter.

The family was advised of the discovery. Police and Nunavut’s coroner continue their investigations, the RCMP release said.

“At this moment, criminality is not suspected,” Nunavut RCMP spokesperson Sgt. George Henrie said Tuesday.