The body found in the Rideau River May 12 was identified as former Carleton student Michael Pineau, according to the CBC.
Pineau, 19, had been missing since March 15, according to the CBC.
Meghan McAloney, Pineau’s housemate, said they were both racing on to the front door and they both slipped and fell, at which point Pineau stood up and took off. Others who were there tried to stop him, however, they figured that Pineau was simply going for a run to cool off, something he had done often.
He was last seen running southbound on Chesterton Drive, from his home in the Meadowlands and Viewmount area, according to the Ottawa Citizen.
His body was discovered by a canoeist in the river near Brewer Park under the Bronson Avenue bridge at around 6:15 p.m., according to the CBC.
After an autopsy took place, the body was identified as Pineau May 19.
Liz Pineau, Michael’s mother, posted the following statement on his Facebook memorial page the same day.
“[Ottawa Police] today [confirmed] that the body found [May 12] is Michael. Our family is devastated. We have lost an amazing, talented, extremely generous and intelligent son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin. Mike was truly the salt of the earth. We have had overwhelming support from our family and friends in Mattawa, Ottawa, [North] Bay and across the country, and are very grateful. [Ottawa Police] have been helpful and knowledgeable throughout this most difficult time. A memorial service for [Pineau] will be held in Mattawa sometime during the month of June. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of other missing persons.”
Though Pineau began studying humanities at Carleton, in the first semester of his second year he stopped taking courses and was looking to change his program, so he was not currently a Carleton student, according to the Ottawa Citizen.
