Summary
In May of 2016, an unidentified young man was found on the shore of Lake Laberge north of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Historic Case Unit and Yukon Coroner’s Service (YCS) exhausted all forensic and investigative routes in hopes of identifying the young man, but were unsuccessful. Aerial, water, and ground searches were conducted to try and locate any sort of additional information regarding his identity, yet these efforts were unsuccessful. The autopsy was inconclusive in regards to what caused the young man’s death.
In 2020, the RCMP Historic Case Unit and YCS teamed up with Othram with the goal of developing new investigative leads as to the identity of the young man. Othram used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® and other advanced forensic DNA technologies to aid in the investigation. With the fresh genetic leads that emerged, investigators were able to identify family members and a candidate identity for the unidentified man. Further DNA testing by Yukon’s YCS and Historic Case Unit confirmed the man’s identity as 32-year-old Alberta native Nathan Eugene Hine. Historic Case Unit investigators have established that Mr. Hine was in Yukon as recently as late 2015. An investigation into the circumstances of his death continues.
Anyone with any information regarding Hine’s whereabouts at the time or circumstances of death are encouraged to reach out to the RCMP Historic Case tip line, (867) 667-5588, MDIV_HCU@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
About Othram Inc.
Othram is the world’s first private DNA laboratory built specifically to apply the power of modern parallel sequencing to forensic evidence. Othram’s scientists are experts at recovery, enrichment, and analysis of human DNA from trace quantities of degraded or contaminated materials. Founded in 2018, and located in The Woodlands, Texas, our team works with academic researchers, forensic scientists, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies to achieve results when other approaches have failed. Follow Othram on Twitter @OthramTech or visit Othram.com to learn how we can help you with your case. Visit dnasolves.com to learn how anyone can make a difference in helping solve the next cold case.