Skull found 9 years ago in Whitehorse ID'd as missing B.C. man

Nearly nine years after a human skull was found by a mountain biker on a Whitehorse trail, police have confirmed the identity of the dead person.

RCMP say the remains are that of Terry Fai Vongof Port Coquitlam, B.C. Vongwould have been 41 years old at the time his remains were foundin October 2009, according to police.

Vong had been considered a missing person since 2007. Yukon RCMP say his death is not considered suspicious.

In a news release on Friday, Yukon RCMPdescribetheir unsuccessful efforts to identify the remains for years after the skull was first found near a trail located off Long Lake Road.

DNA analysis and forensic anthropology work done in 2009 determined that the remains belonged to a man, but police had little else to go on. The investigation continued, but seemingly led nowhere.

"Tips were followed up on, leads were pursued, and DNA comparisons were completed with a number of missing people in hopes of solving the case and providing answers to the family," the release says.

Mountain bikers find more

Things changed a couple of years ago, again thanks to some mountain bikers.

According to police, in September 2016, two bikers found themselves off course near the Long Lake Road. As they carried their bikes through the bush and up asteep hill, they found clothing, a backpack, a walking pole, "and other items that appeared to have been there for a number of years," according to police.

The objects were found just 220 metres from where the skull had been.

"This may not appear to be a far distance from where the skull was found, but the location was actually on the far side of a very steep hill, in extremely rugged terrain," the RCMP release says.

Police later went back and searched the area again, and found several more items money, a flashlight, a watch, sunglasses, and a "personal digital assistant device."

The digital device provided the key police confirmed that it was bought online in 2006 by Vong. Police then confirmed that Vong had been a missing person since 2007.

Yukon RCMPsay the nine-year investigation involved the Yukon Coroners Service, Yukon Search and Rescue, several Yukon RCMPunits, and CoquitlamRCMP.

"It is by working together over the past nine years that we were able to provide long-awaited answers to the family and friends of Mr. Vong," the release says.