Shellbrook RCMP said Wednesday the human remains found in a burnt vehicle on the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation have been identified as a missing man.
The initial complaint came in at 10:15 a.m. CT on May 10. An RCMP member found the vehicle fire along with surrounding bushes burning. At the time, the vehicle was not searched.
Police received two calls at around 4:50 p.m. and 5 p.m. about Brennan Ahenakew, 20, who was last seen at around 11 p.m. the night before. A missing person investigation was launched then with information provided by a concerned family member.
RCMP later received information at 5:30 p.m. there was a burnt-out vehicle on the First Nation and it possibly contained human remains. Upon attending, police found it was the same vehicle from the earlier call and human remains were in fact located inside.
The RCMP major crime unit north attended and completed a preliminary examination of the scene during daylight hours.
The Saskatchewan coroner’s office confirmed the identity of the deceased as Ahenakew, who is from Ahtahkakoop.
Further results of the autopsy conducted earlier this week are not being released by RCMP at this time.
Investigators are trying to clarify Ahenakew’s activities and identify those who had contact with him on the morning he died.
Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation is approximately 135 kilometres north of Saskatoon.