BRUNSWICK – DNA analysis of hairs from a sweater and a hand-held mirror helped authorities identify a man whose body was found three weeks ago, hanging from a tree in a wooded area off Bath Road.

Brunswick police identified the man Tuesday as Raymond Graebe, 79, of Brunswick. The state Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a suicide by hanging.

Police said Graebe’s body was found on Dec. 22. Graebe had a makeshift tent near railroad tracks and appeared to have been living there for some time.

After his decomposed body was found, Brunswick police asked for the public’s help by revealing some key details.

When Graebe was found, he had a urine catheter bag strapped to his leg, which led police to believe he had a medical condition.

Detective Sgt. Martin Rinaldi said tips from the public led police to an apartment on Water Street where Graebe had lived until he moved out in October.

Rinaldi said investigators sent a sweater and a mirror from that apartment to the state police crime lab in Augusta, where technicians matched the DNA from hairs taken off those items to samples from the body.

During their investigation, police learned that Graebe, who had been diagnosed with cancer, was terminally ill, Rinaldi said.

Graebe was divorced and had three sons living across the country. After notifying his family, police decided to release his name.