Identified! NY - Ogdensburg, Skeletal remains, wooded area, Dec'17 - Thomas Larose

OGDENSBURG — City police are waiting on forensic evidence to determine the identity of human remains found in a wooded area off Park Street this week, and in particular whether the body is that of city resident Thomas M. Larose, who went missing in Aug. 2016.

Ogdensburg Police Lt. Daniel Mousaw said he and others in the department are aware of rumors circulating in the community that the body is that of Mr. Larose. But he said in deference to the Larose family, it would be improper to speculate until the true identity is known through forensics.

“With respect to Thomas Larose, certainly it is in the back of our mind, and we wonder if the remains that were located are Thomas Larose,” Mr. Mousaw said. “However, the only way to know that is to hope for an identification through the forensic autopsy. We would all certainly like to bring some type of closure to the Larose family, as they have been missing their loved one since August of 2016. Only time will tell at this point.”
Mr. Larose last had contact with family at the end of August 2016, according to Ogdensburg Police. He was officially reported missing on Sept. 29 of that year.

An autopsy on the remains found Monday was performed in Albany Wednesday. But until a final report is issued, Mr. Mousaw said he and others in the community will have to wait.

“As of this time today, we do not have an identification of the human remains,” Mr. Mousaw said Wednesday afternoon. “Until we receive notification of an identification of those remains and an official autopsy report hopefully determining the cause of death, we will have no further information to provide.”

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OGDENSBURG — A decomposed body found in a wooded area off Park Street in December has been identified as that of Thomas M. Larose, 48, of Ogdensburg, according to city police.

Foul play was also ruled out as a cause of death, according to police, who say that an autopsy has shown Mr. Larose died by his own hand.

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In a statement Tuesday, Ogdensburg Police Lt. Daniel Mousaw said that a positive identification of Mr. Larose was made through forensic testing.

“I can report to you, today, that the deceased has positively been identified as Mr. Thomas M. Larose, age 48, of Ogdensburg,” Mr. Mousaw said. “As you are aware, Mr. Larose was reported missing to the Ogdensburg Police Department on September 29th, 2016, and had not been seen since August 25th, 2016. Since that time, the Ogdensburg Police Department, along with the New York State Police, have been investigating Mr. Larose’s disappearance.”

The autopsy, and identification of Mr. Larose’s remains, were performed by Dr. Michael Sikirica, a forensic pathologist with Albany Medical Center, according to Mr. Mousaw.

He said the cause of Mr. Larose’s death has been officially ruled a suicide.

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