A 45-year-old man has been charged after the human remains of a man who was reported missing in 2002 was discovered.

Chad Reu-Waters, of Norfolk County, is charged with first-degree murder and indignity to a dead body.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say the human remains belonged to Ashley Max Domenic Pereira of Mississauga, who vanished 17 years ago when he was 33 years old.

His remains were found east of Port Burwell on May 6, 2019.

Police didn’t say whether there was any relationship between Reu-Waters and Pereira.

Investigators say the length of time between Pereira’s disappearance and the discovery of his remains presented “significant investigative challenges.”

OPP is still asking the public for assistance in the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact OPP Elgin County at 1-888-310-1122.