Body of Richard St. Germain recovered from Mackenzie River

The body of Richard St. Germain was found on a sandbar in the Mackenzie River about 20 kilometres downstream of Norman Wells, N.W.T., on Wednesday.

Police say the remains will be sent to Edmonton for an autopsy and identification, but Richard's father Laval St. Germain says from what the RCMP have told him, he is sure the body recovered north of Norman Wells is that of his son.

"Ultimately the positive identification is going be only after dental record checks, which I provided with Richard's dentist," he said.

"His credit card was found in his pocket. He has a tattoo on his left hand, he was wearing black leather boots, he just shaved his head ... this is all coincides with what the RCMP tell me. It's Richard for sure."

Police say the matter has been turned over to N.W.T.'s Office of the Chief Coroner.

St. Germain, 21, went missing in the Mackenzie River near Norman Wells when his canoe tipped July 15. More than a hundred people from all over the region took part in a search for the man in the days following the incident.

St. Germain had moved to Norman Wells just three weeks prior to his death to work for North-Wright Airways.​