The human remains found in Abbotsford on Feb. 16 along the banks of the Fraser River have been identified as a man who has been missing from Vancouver since September 2011.
Barry Hinchcliffe, 44, left his home in the 900 block of Expo Boulevard in Vancouver at about 7 p.m. on Sept. 20, 2011. He was headed to a rural property he owned in Mission in the 12900 block of Sylvester Road.
He was reported missing by his family seven days later. Hinchcliffe had missed his daughter's birthday and his own, and his behaviour was considered uncharacteristic.
Police located his unoccupied grey 2009 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck at the Mission property, and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took over the investigation on Oct. 1.
A search was conducted of the property, which contained a large Quonset-hut type structure, several small sheds and a run-down vacant mobile home.
Hinchcliffe's remains were found Feb. 16 by a citizen who was walking along the river in an area off Walters Street in Abbotsford.
IHIT spokesman Sgt. Adam MacIntosh said the case is still being investigated as a homicide.
Hinchcliffe's cause of death and other information are not being released at this time.
"We are fortunate to provide to a grieving family some closure with the remains of Barry being found but our ultimate goal is to solve this homicide," MacIntosh said.