1988 Quebec missing person’s case solved after bones found in river identified

MONTREAL — Montreal-area police say a missing person’s case from 1988 has been solved with the recent discovery of human remains in a vehicle submerged in a river.

Robert St-Louis, a 42-year-old father of five from Laval, Que., disappeared in June 1988.

A diving group called Exploring With a Mission, hired by the St-Louis family, found bones inside a vehicle in the Mille-Îles River north of Montreal on July 20.

Exploring With a Mission uses sonar to search waterways for missing people.

Laval police say a coroner confirmed that the remains belonged to the missing man.

Police paid tribute to the family, which has pursued efforts to find their missing relative for the past 37 years.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.

The Canadian Press