A tragic 26-year-old mystery has finally been solved.
Peter Devoe, then 29, was last seen March 13 of 1985 scuba diving with a family member off of Cates Park. An experienced diver, it's believed Devoe experienced some difficulties with his equipment while underwater. He never resurfaced.
Emergency services were called in and an extensive search operation was launched, but Devoe was never found.
On Oct. 23 of this year, two commercial fishermen were hauling in their nets just to the west of Cates Park. To their horror, they discovered human remains and scuba equipment tangled in their gear.
North Vancouver RCMP officers and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team delivered the remains to the B.C. Coroner Service, which positively identified the remains as those of Devoe.
"In this case, we had a lot of circumstantial evidence," said Stephen Fonseca, manager of identification.
"Based on previous injuries and finding a personal effect in the scuba suit, we had enough information to make the identification without seeking a DNA sample from the family. It's been a tough enough time for them. They've dealt with it and now they almost have to relive it again."
Although it's impossible to determine a specific medical cause of death, the coroner ruled out any question of foul play.
Devoe's remains will be returned to his family, who have declined to speak publicly.
Fonseca said Devoe was both a skilled diver and an active member of the community. A partial paraplegic, Devoe was also an accomplished competitive athlete. He was the founder and president of the scuba diving club of Wheelchair Sport.
"He had tremendous community spirit," said Fonseca. "He was quite an incredible character and a great representative for people with disabilities."
