'My son is in heaven,' says father of Mark Lynn after skull found in wolf den

The father of a missing man in Dettah, N.W.T., believes a skull found at a wolf den near the community belongs to his son.

Mark Lynn, 21, was last seen on the evening of August 24 at a gathering near the lagoon area of Dettah. He was reported missing on August 28.

RCMP searched the area and discovered bone fragments along with other evidence they declined to describe. Local searchers later recovered a skull from a wolf den. The search was called down on Sunday.

Jim Lynn, Mark's father, said police have yet to confirm the identity of the remains. He said that could take months, but he's ready to move forward.

"On Friday they came to our home and told us they could confirm that some of the bone fragments found were human fragments and that was basically the extent of it," Lynn said.

"It's still not confirmed yet, but in my mind, I had confirmation a week ago Saturday that he was dead, but that's from the Lord."

Lynn has spent 53 years working with the Catholic church. He said the Lord spoke to him while he was searching for his son.

"When I was out there searching, he said, 'Hey, it's all right. He's come home with me.'"

Lynn said whatever happened to his son on the night he went missing will likely remain a mystery.

"I know my son was the last to leave the gathering or he never really left," he said. 

"Without the body, I don't know whether the coroner or anybody can ever give us those answers.

"It's a complete mystery in my mind and in my heart."

Lynn said there are many theories of what happened to Mark, and most are without merit. However, he said he does respect and acknowledge the thinking coming from the Aboriginal community in Dettah.

"It seemed to them that there was a struggle between [Mark] and a bear... they honestly feel the wolves then stole the body of my son from the bear."

Lynn is hopeful the coroner will release the remains to his family this week. He said he has made tentative funeral arrangements for Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Yellowknife.

"I know with my soul that my son is in heaven with God."