Vida Smith Obituary – Cause of Death: Human remains found in Banff National Park identified as woman missing since July 2020.
The woman who has been missing since July 2020 has been identified from human remains discovered in Banff National Park in early May.
The Calgary Police Service verified Vida Smith’s remains to be hers on Monday.
Smith’s disappearance was reported in July 2020 after she failed to arrive at her Chestermere, Alberta, residence.
In connection with Smith’s passing, Kevin Barton, also known as Chris Lee, was charged on July 31, 2020, with one count of manslaughter.
Last October, information about a potential site for Smith’s remains was provided to investigators who were working to find them. A search was deemed “impossible” due to the terrain and winter weather, so on May 9 authorities returned to the area and discovered the remains close to a rest area off the Trans-Canada Highway going east of Banff.
The medical examiner’s autopsy last week established that Smith’s remains were in fact present.