The body of a man who went missing last week has been found. Though RCMP have not yet confirmed the identity of the person they found on Thursday June 3, family and friends of Jamie Leard have begun to mourn his loss.
A Facebook group originally dedicated to helping find Jamie has been turned into a memorial site, where friends and family are posting photos, sharing memories, and reacting in shock at the news of his passing. Many are remembering 38-year-old Jamie Leard as a well-loved, quiet, and kind-hearted man.
Family friend Brooke Polley set up the group, as well as a GoFundMe site to help collect money to go towards funeral costs.
Leard was last seen on Wednesday May 26 and was reported missing by his family on Friday, May 28. On the same day, Leard’s car was found abandoned in Springhill, Nova Scotia. Although the New Brunswick RCMP did not issue a missing person notice, police were in touch with Leard’s mother daily, according to his cousin Aliesha Stright. On Wednesday, June 2, they announced an investigation into his disappearance by the RCMP’s major crime unit.
In a news release Friday, RCMP say they, “located human remains behind an abandoned mobile home on a dirt road known as Quarry Road in Coburg.”
The remains were found Thursday, June 3, “following information received from the public.”
“Police were in the area conducting searches as part of the investigation into the disappearance of James (Jamie) Leard,” reads the statement. “An autopsy has been ordered to positively identify the remains, and to determine cause of death.”
RCMP spokesperson Hans Ouelette says the force is still waiting for positive identification before confirming they have found Jamie Leard. He says the force is “continuing to diligently investigate what happened to Jamie Leard.”
