Human remains discovered on a US mountainside nearly a year ago have been formally identified as a missing Scottish man.
The bones, belonging to John Gillies from Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, were located by forest workers near Sweetwater Gap, Wyoming, last year.
Wyoming Game and Fish personnel had discovered scattered skeletal remains on September 6, prompting authorities to launch a complex investigation to determine the deceased’s identity.
The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a 14-member team from its force, along with Sublette County Search and Rescue and the US Forest Service, searched a 20-mile area of rugged terrain and recovered an estimated 85 per cent of the skeletal remains.
Local police estimated the remains had been on the mountainside for six years.
Investigators collected personal items at the scene and, working with Interpol and Police Scotland, managed to identify the missing Scot.
Police contacted the man’s former wife, who shared information on him, saying to officers: “I wanted you to know he was more than bones.”
The sheriff’s office said: “Her compassion and willingness to assist provided invaluable insight during the investigation and served as a powerful reminder that every unidentified person is someone’s loved one.”
Detectives contacted Saint Mary’s Parish Church in Kirkintilloch, which helped find Mr Gillies’s family before an international death notification was issued.
After receiving DNA samples, police confirmed on June 30 that the man was Mr Gillies, who would have been 69 this year.
The local force said the man’s family have been informed and that work is now underway to return Mr Gillie’s remains to Scotland.
Sheriff KC Lehr said: “This case is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved and the strength of partnerships that extend well beyond our county and even our nation’s borders.
“What began as the discovery of unidentified remains in a remote area of Wyoming ultimately brought together local, state, federal, and international partners with one shared goal: to give a family answers.
“We are grateful to everyone who played a role in helping bring John home.”
