Casey Oakes (Provided photo — Tom Graser, Watertown Daily Times)

AKWESASNE — Akwesasne Mohawk Police have identified a body pulled from the St. Lawrence River near Ross Island on July 3 as that of Casey Oakes, 30, Akwesasne.

Oakes was last seen, according to police, on March 29 boarding a small light-blue boat on the eastern end of Cornwall Island at about 9:30 p.m.

Oakes’ disappearance coincided with the discovery of eight bodies in the St. Lawrence River. The bodies were believed to be the result of a failed attempt to enter the United States illegally, by boat.

The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service said on April 3 that during the search for Oakes, a vessel matching his boat’s description was found near where the eight bodies were found. The boat was removed by police and placed in secure storage for further processing. Clothing identified as belonging to Oakes were also found.

Police said in a release on Friday that an investigation into Oakes’ death and the deaths of eight foreign nationals crossing the river by boat in March is ongoing.

A helicopter crew conducting an unrelated search discovered six bodies in the river, five adults and one child, on March 30. Two more bodies, a woman and a child, were found on March 31.

The migrants were later identified as two families, one from Romania and the other from India.

In April, the search for Oakes was intense.

Marine units from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, Hogansburg/Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Ontario Provincial Police were dispatched to search the waterways of the Snye Channel.

A Zodiac marine patrol, divers and air support from the Surete du Quebec were also used. Police said a dry land search was conducted by Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Emergency Response Team.

Ross Island is in the Ontario portion of the St. Lawrence River, close to the Quebec side of the waterway.

Police urge anyone with information to contact the Akwesasne Mohawk Police at 613-575-2340 or submit a secure tip by email at tips@akwesasne.ca.