On Dec. 18, the Ogdensburg Police Department responded to a wooded area located to the rear, eastern side of the BOCES Northwest Tech building, Park Street, for a report of the discovery of human remains.

Investigators say they have identified the remains as those of Thomas M. LaRose, 48, who was reported missing on Sept. 29, 2016 and had not been seen since Aug. 25, 2016.

The cause of death has been officially ruled a suicide, police said.

Dr. Michael Sikirica, a forensic pathologist at Albany Medical Center, performed an autopsy, and subsequently identified the remains.

Ogdensburg Det. Daniel Mousaw said the investigation “dispelled” rumors that LaRose had died as a result of foul play.

“I can tell you that the joint investigation of the Ogdensburg Police Department, aided by the New York State Police, the investigation of the scene where the remains were located, along with the forensic autopsy, dispelled the reports and rumor mill that had spun up, during the course of the investigation, indicating foul play,” Mousaw said in a statement to the press released on Tuesday afternoon.

The Ogdensburg Police Department was assisted by the New York State Police Criminal Investigations Unit, the New York State Police Forensic Investigations Unit, Coroner Kevin Crosby, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney Gary Pasqua.