A homeless man who was found dead in downtown Victoria more than 20 years ago has finally been identified.
The body of Kenneth William Boseley, 35, was found on View Street in October 1994, the B.C. Coroners Service said Wednesday.
Although Boseley did not die of natural causes, his death is not considered suspicious, the coroners service said.
Authorities struggled to identify him. He had no fixed address, no identification papers and had not lived in the city for long, coroner Barbara McLintock said.
In the months that followed, Boseley’s remains could not be matched with any missing person reports.
During a recent routine review of unidentified human remains cases, the coroners service identification and disaster response unit thought identification in the case might be possible.
The unit contacted the RCMP’s missing persons centre and, using Victoria Police Department records, the identification was made. Boseley’s family, who live out of the province, has been notified. He had a brother, but did not have children, the coroners service said. “I know they were happy we provided closure,” McLintock said of the family.
“It’s still always sad for families when they realize for sure that their loved one is gone.
“But at least we can bring them some peace of mind that they know what happened and are not constantly wondering about a family member who has just gone missing.”
ceharnett@timescolonist.com
