Personal items found near Yellowknife belonged to missing Japanese woman: RCMP

YELLOWKNIFE – RCMP say personal items found in the woods outside Yellowknife belonged to a Japanese tourist who disappeared from the area last fall.

But police say human remains found with the items must still undergo forensic tests that could take months to confirm an identity.

Atsumi Yoshikubo, who was 45, was last seen Oct. 22, 2014, as she walked along a highway north of the city.

She was reported missing after she failed to check out of her room at the Explorer Hotel.

A few weeks later, RCMP said she planned to disappear into the wilderness and took steps to avoid being found.

Insp. Matt Peggs, commander of the Yellowknife RCMP detachment, says no further information on what items have been recovered will be released.

“Sufficient evidence exists for police to determine without a doubt that the items belonged to Atsumi Yoshikubo,” RCMP said in a release Wednesday.

“Yellowknife RCMP is aware of the public interest in the case and the concern of the families who are hoping for answers in this discovery.”

Mounties say Yoshikubo’s family and the Japanese consulate have been notified.