John Gillies, a British man who vanished seven years ago, has been identified from skeletal remains found on an American mountain. The remains were discovered on September 6, 2025, near the Sweetwater Gap in Fremont County, Wyoming, and experts estimate he died on the Wind River Mountains at some point in 2019. Gillies, who would have turned 69 this year, was originally from Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire.
International Effort to Identify Remains
Personal items belonging to Gillies were used to locate his ex-wife, who assisted in the identification by sharing photos, medical information, and background details. She told the Sublette County Sheriff's Office, "I wanted you to know he was more than bones." Interpol and Police Scotland obtained DNA samples from Gillies' relatives, leading to a forensic breakthrough.
In the US, a search launched four days after the bones were found involved multiple teams. A 14-member search team covered some 20 miles of rugged terrain, according to BBC News. By December 28, 2025, an estimated 85% of Gillies' skeletal remains had been recovered, and experts concluded the remains had been in place for six years.
Forensic Confirmation
After forensic analysis, the samples and skeletal remains were sent to the Wyoming State Crime Laboratory in Cheyenne on February 11, 2026. There, they were compared with samples collected in Scotland. On Tuesday, investigators confirmed a biological relationship, positively identifying the remains as Gillies. Family members have requested the remains be returned to Scotland.
Sublette County Sheriff K C Lehr said: "This case is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved and the strength of partnerships that extend well beyond our county and even our nation's borders. What began as the discovery of unidentified remains in a remote area of Wyoming ultimately brought together local, state, federal, and international partners with one shared goal - to give a family answers. We are grateful to everyone who played a role in helping bring John home."
