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Body found near Amherstburg, Ont., identified 21 years later as missing Detroit man

James Raymond Stewart, 48, was discovered May 29, 2003 at the Livingston Channel of the Detroit River — but it wasn’t until last year that authorities were able to find out who he was because investigative genetic genealogy.

James Raymond Stewart, 48, was last seen alive in Nov. 2002

CBC News ·
The body of James Raymond Stewart was discovered near the Detroit River shoreline around Amherstburg, Ont., May 29, 2003 after being reported missing in Nov. 2002.
The body of James Raymond Stewart was discovered near the Detroit River shoreline around Amherstburg, Ont., May 29, 2003 after being reported missing in Nov. 2002. (OPP/YouTube)

"He won't be a 'John Doe' anymore," said family members of James Raymond Stewart.

They recently travelled from the United States to Amherstburg, Ont., to visit his gravestone for the first time, according to an OPP YouTube video.

Feet of two of Stewart's family members are shown at his gravesite. This is the first time his family was able to see where he was buried after finding a genetic match.
Feet of two of Stewart's family members are shown at his gravesite. This is the first time his family was able to see where he was buried after finding a genetic match. (OPP/YouTube)

Stewart's body was discovered May 29, 2003 at the Livingston Channel in the Detroit River — but it wasn't until last year that authorities were able to find out who he was because investigative genetic genealogy (IGG).

The Detroit man was 48 when he disappeared in Nov. 2002. When his body was found, he was wearing dark pants, shirt and a winter coat with mountain shoes.

The OPP says this is the area where Stewart's body was recovered in 2003.
The OPP says this is the area where Stewart's body was recovered in 2003. (OPP/YouTube)

No foul play is suspected in his death and the cause of death is being left as undetermined.

Ontario Provincial Police say in Feb. 2023, investigators used Stewart's DNA to come up with a presumptive identity. A match was eventually struck in Sept. 2024 when a family member's DNA was used for confirmation. 

"This investigative tool [IGG] has proven to be invaluable, enabling law enforcement to solve even decades-old cases and offering hope to others facing similar circumstances," said OPP detective inspector Randy Gaynor.

The cause of Stewart's death has been listed as undetermined and foul play was not suspected.
The cause of Stewart's death has been listed as undetermined and foul play was not suspected. (OPP/YouTube)

"Its ability to connect distant relatives through DNA has transformed the landscape of historic homicide and unidentified human remains investigations."

Since 2019, the OPP has integrated IGG into its investigative practices for specific types of crimes. To date, police say 23 cases have been submitted for analysis. In 2024, two cases were resolved using it, according to the OPP.

WATCH | 21-year-old case solved using investigative genetic genealogy:

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