PHILIPSBURG--Natanael Conception-Pantiagua (32) has been missing since April 9 last year and now has been identified by investigators as the decomposed body found in the bushes on top of a hill in Dawn Beach on April 29.
Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Karola van Nie confirmed his identity to The Daily Herald on Thursday. “The identity has been confirmed as that of the missing person. Investigation has indicated that he did not die from natural causes; therefore the investigation is still ongoing,” she stated.
Family members of the deceased from the Dominican Republic have been in contact with authorities since last year after the body was found, in efforts to try piece together what happened to their relative. Conception-Pantiagua had been residing in St. Maarten for 10 years. His last known address was on Bush Road, according to reports.
On the scene investigating officers found a severely decomposed body of an unidentified male or female. Due to the state in which the body was found it was very difficult to determine the gender or the cause of death at the time. The body was shipped to the Netherlands for an autopsy. Investigators were able to determine that the body was that of a man.
Family of the victim filed a missing-person report with police and later investigators were able to identify that indeed the body was Natanael Conception-Pantiagua.
The Prosecutor’s Office and police call on anyone to come forward if they have information that can be of any interest in this case. The tip line of the Police Force St. Maarten KPSM is tel. 9300.
