New clues are emerging about a woman whose body was found in English Bay in 2022, thanks to breakthrough forensic analysis.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) initially shared a news release asking for the public’s help to identify a woman who was found near Spanish Banks in September 2022.
VPD recovered the body of a 30- to 40-year-old woman, found floating in the water at Spanish Banks at around 9 p.m. on Sept. 29.
In the following year, VPD renewed its calls for the public’s help, and now, there has been a breakthrough thanks to forensic pollen testing.
“Forensic testing of pollen has revealed an unidentified woman whose body was found in English Bay in 2022 may have spent her final days in the Seattle or Portland area,” VPD shared in a release.
Despite the extensive efforts that have been made so far, which include searches across North America and collaboration with Interpol, no missing person report has matched the woman’s description.
Thanks to this new evidence, VPD is once again renewing its appeal for the public’s help in identifying the woman.
Using the breakthrough forensic analysis, VPD are announcing the significant development after learning that a U.S. Customs and Border Protection lab in Chicago could analyze pollen spores on clothing to determine where a person may have recently spent time.
VPD Sergeant Anton Schamberger sent the woman’s backpack and sweater over for testing.
“In July 2025, the lab submitted a report to the VPD,” VPD said.
It added, “The findings indicated that the pollen grains and fern spores on the woman’s sweater suggested that it had recent exposure to an urban environment within the Pacific Northwest, plausibly Seattle or Portland. The report also indicated a near total absence of pollen grains or fern spores from the Vancouver area. This evidence suggests the woman is not from Vancouver but could have spent her last days in the Seattle or Portland areas.”
The VPD has released an updated video with its new forensic findings. There will also be a press conference held in Seattle with support from the Seattle Police Department and Portland Police Bureau, with a further appeal for the public’s help.
“The goal of this initiative is to trigger memories, generate new leads, and ultimately identify the woman so her family can be notified. Investigators hope the video and cross-border outreach will reach people who may recognize her, even if she was not originally from the Pacific Northwest or North America,” VPD said.
Anyone with information is being asked to call 604-717-0619 or email thekayaker@vpd.ca.
VPD