After two decades, a man whose body washed ashore has been identified as James Raymond Stewart from Detroit, bringing closure to his family.
Detroit: So, get this! A man whose body washed up on the US-Ontario border over 20 years ago has finally been identified. Crazy, right? Police just announced it this week.
Back in May 2003, they found this guy’s body in the Livingston Channel of the Detroit River. He was dressed in dark pants, a dark shirt, a winter coat, and mountain shoes. But for years, no one knew who he was.
They tried everything to figure it out, but nothing worked until early 2023. That’s when they decided to use genetic genealogy on his DNA. At first, they got a “presumptive” ID, but by September 2024, they confirmed he was James Raymond Stewart, a 48-year-old from Detroit who went missing in November 2002. They matched his DNA with that of a sibling.
His family even made a trip to Amherstburg, Ontario, to visit his gravestone. Sadly, his parents passed away before they could find out what happened to him.
As for how he ended up in the river, that’s still a mystery. The cause of death is undetermined, but the police don’t suspect foul play, according to Detective Inspector Randy Gaynor.
James was born on May 31, 1954. His sister described him as a “sensitive” and “quiet” guy who loved jazz and good food. He leaves behind three siblings.
Earlier in life, he served in the US Navy and worked in restaurants around Detroit. One of his sisters mentioned that Thanksgiving is always a tough time for the family since that’s when he went missing.
But now, they feel a sense of closure. One sister said, “We’re just celebrating the fact that now we have closure. We know where he is.”
