Remains buried in Regina at least 5 years ago identified by police

The human remains of a man found in a Regina backyard have been identified, according to the city’s police service.

Regina police received a report on June 9 about human remains found outside a home in the 1300 block of Retallack Street. Police said the man’s remains were in the backyard for at least five years before being located. Investigators gathered and shared information to request public assistance in identifying the man later that month.

The remains have been identified as belonging to Wayne Joseph Breed. Breed would be 34 years old if he were alive today, police said in a news release Thursday.

He is not listed in any missing person databases and was identified through the national RCMP DNA Data Bank.

The RCMP database contains hundreds of thousands of DNA profiles from people convicted of offences and ordered by a judge to provide a sample. Victims’ DNA can also be voluntarily gathered to be included in a designated index of the database, the RCMP website notes . Non-victims who were not ordered to provide a sample by a judge may also choose to do so.

Regina police have notified Breed’s family that the remains were identified. Police said the investigation “into the circumstances of his death is ongoing.”