On Dec. 16th, Blackfalds RCMP were alerted to the discovery of human remains on a rural property.

Red Deer RCMP Forensic Identification Section and Major Crimes South completed an examination of the scene and investigated the circumstances of the discovery of these human remains.

An autopsy was conducted at the Calgary Medical Examiner’s Office on Dec. 19th and the results obtained have revealed that this was the missing 49-year-old female, Lorie Nichols of Red Deer.

There is no connection between her and the person who found her in the field.

The RCMP are not investigating this as a suspicious death and further information will not be made available in relation to this investigation.

Nichols was last seen in Red Deer on Feb. 23rd.

RCMP had received a number of tips from the public regarding possible sightings of Nichols in a number of cities and towns in Alberta and beyond, and had followed up on each one, working with the police in each jurisdiction.

None of the tips had been fruitful.

Police had also undertaken a number of ground searches in Red Deer with support from search and rescue teams, Police Dog Services and the RCMP helicopter.

Searches had taken place in a variety of locations, including walking paths Nichols was known to use, the river valley, wooded areas near her home, and more.

Red Deer RCMP had also conducted door to door canvases and interviews with a number of people who were in contact with Nichols in the time leading up to her being reported missing.

They distributed posters, made repeated checks at various organizations and businesses and viewed many hours of surveillance footage from various locations that had come up during the course of the investigation.