Human Remains Found in Washington After Washing Ashore 16 Years Ago Identified as Teen Who Disappeared from Home

Mar. 15, 2025

Jeffrey Surtel.Photo:Mission RCMP/Facebook

Mission RCMP/Facebook

Human remains found in Washington state nearly 17 years ago have finally been identified.

On Tuesday, March 11, theMission Royal Canadian Mounted Police(RCMP) announced that the remains belonged to Jeffrey Surtel, 17, of Mission, British Columbia.

However, although “numerous tips of possible sightings were received from various areas of the Lower Mainland and other parts of B.C.,” nothing led to the missing boy being found.

According to authorities, in August 2008, human remains washed ashore on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office conducted an DNA analysis of the remains, but no matches were found.

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Finally after generating donations through crowd-funding in 2024, the sheriff’s office sent the DNA to a private laboratory in Texas, which was able to “link the DNA to a member of Jeffrey’s extended family,” the Mission RCMP said.

The lab later confirmed the identify of the remains and Jeffrey’s family was notified.

According to investigators from Canada and the U.S., there is no sign of criminality in the case, but the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey’s disappearance and death remain unknown.

In a statement, Inspector Ted Lewko with the Mission RCMP expressed condolences to Jeffrey’s family and friends.

“We hope that this update helps to bring them some closure to what has surely been an unimaginable eighteen years of wondering what happened,” Lewko said. “Our sincere thanks to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office for their perseverance in finding answers, and to the lab that was able to help link the DNA to Jeffrey’s family.  Your efforts have made a real difference to those who knew and loved Jeffrey.”

Jeffrey’s family also shared a statement through the Mission RCMP that read in part: “We would like to thank all the people who supported us over the years and were involved in the search for Jeff.”

source: people.com