One of the enduring missing persons cases of hikers lost in the North Shore mountains has been resolved.
The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed the remains of Tom Billings, the British tourist who triggered a massive manhunt in December 2013, have been found.
According to the coroner, a hiker found the 22-year-old’s body on April 11 this year, on Hollyburn Mountain. Authorities say foul play is not suspected. The coroner confirmed the ID through DNA testing.
Billings was last seen on Nov. 25, 2013 in Vancouver and investigators believed he was headed for the backcountry. North Shore Rescue led a large-scale search focussing on the Hanes Valley where it was believed Billings was headed when he became lost or injured.
Billings’ family has been notified and the family issued a statement through the Vancouver Police Department.
“The family wants to thank the general public for the support and assistance in the search to find their son Tom over the last two and a half years. The family specifically wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the members of the North Shore Search and Rescue team and the helicopter pilots of Talon Aviation, the staff and members of the British consulate in Vancouver for all their continued support, and finally to the VPD in general and the Missing Persons Unit in particular for their continued and persistent work to find their son Tom,” it read.
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