Eastern Finnish police received notice on Tuesday that an elderly man from Ilomantsi had not retrieved his post from his mailbox for several days. When they went to his house to check up on him and see how he was doing, they found his home had burned to the ground.
However, as the ruins were not smoldering and snow had fallen on them, police say the fire happened some time ago. A technical search of the ruins uncovered some bones.
DNA tests will determine whether the bones are those of the man, born in 1931, who lived alone in the house. He was last seen a week ago on December 18.
Police do not suspect foul play.