Human remains discovered in Nova Scotia earlier this month have been identified as being a New Brunswick man who disappeared last summer, and RCMP are now investigating his death as a homicide.
Darren Jones, 57, of Maquapit Lake, a small community about 28 kilometres southwest of Minto, was reported missing by his family on July 25.
He had not been seen since he left his home the first week of July, driving his black 2017 GMC Canyon.
Family members told CBC News at the time that Jones might have been on his way to Halifax to buy a vehicle, but he never showed up to make the purchase.
His pickup truck was found by local RCMP abandoned in the Stewiacke, N.S., area, just prior to his being reported missing.
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On Dec. 2, shortly after 9:30 a.m., a hunter found human remains in woods off East Uniacke Road, north of Middle Sackville, and called Nova Scotia RCMP.
The road, located between Evangeline Trail and Beaver Bank Road, is in a "very rural" area, Cpl. Jennifer Clarke had said, adding she didn't believe there are any homes nearby.
An autopsy was performed and the remains have been positively identified as being Jones, New Brunswick RCMP Cpl. Jullie Rogers-Marsh said in a statement Tuesday.
She did not release the cause of death or say why police are treating the case as a homicide.
2nd homicide in area
RCMP are investigating the death of another Minto-area man last summer as a homicide.
The body of Ronald Richard, 50, was found on a rural property in Hardwood Ridge, a community about 10 kilometres north of Minto, on July 23.
Police have said they do not believe it was a random homicide, but have not provided any other details.
Richard was described in court three years ago as being a member of the Bacchus motorcycle club.
Jones's daughter, Farren Colford of Calgary, had described her father as "an extraordinary man" with a hard head and a good heart.
It was not uncommon for him to leave town without telling anyone, she said, but family members were worried because he hadn't paid his rent and his phone was turned off.
"We're thinking the worst," Colford had said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the New Brunswick RCMP's major crime unit at 506-452-3491, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
