The search for a man who went missing in Feburary of last year has ended in a tragic discovery.

Ridge Meadows RCMP stated on February 5 that they received a report of unidentified human remains found near the Katzie Slough trails in Pitt Meadows on December 28.

On January 28, the B.C. Coroners Service identified the human remains as Ryan McAuley, a 35-year-old man originally from Hope, B.C., who had gone missing after being last seen on February 14 in Coquitlam, where he was living at the time. He was later found to appear on store security video on February 15 in Maple Ridge.

He was wanted on a B.C. Mental Health Act warrant.

Ridge Meadows RCMP stated that foul play isn’t suspected in McAuley’s death but investigators would like to speak with anyone who saw or spoke with Mcauley in Pitt Meadows or anyone who was walking through the Katzie Slough trails in February 2019.

McAuley is described as a white male who is 177 centimetres (five-feet, eight-inches) tall and weighs 109 kilograms (240 pounds) with red or light-brown hair and a heavy-set build. He had facial hair and wore glasses.

He had been last seen wearing a grey hoodie with a navy blue jacket, blue jeans, and running shoes, and was carrying a black backpack.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.