AKWESASNE – Police have ruled out foul play in the death of an Akwesasne man, found Wednesday in a marshy area of Snye, Quebec.
Donald “Do” Johnson, 31, who had been missing since Feb. 9, was found off Wade Lafrance Road in the Quebec portion of Akwesasne (Snye), about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of Hogansburg, N.Y.
Police say Johnson’s body was found on top of the ice in the frozen marsh while Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police were conducting a search by helicopter around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
AMPS investigator Kariwate Mitchell says the search only lasted a half hour before the body was found. It was a sad conclusion to an extensive 20-day search, which included search parties coordinated by Johnson’s family.
Mitchell added that foul play is not suspected. “There were no indicators to lead us to that belief,” he said.
A medical examination is pending.
“This is standard practice to determine specifics…we want to provide closure for the grieving family,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell also thanked the various law enforcement organizations from Ontario and Quebec that helped in the search.