The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has released a three-dimensional facial reconstruction based on human remains first recovered in Algonquin Park back in 1980.
The reconstruction is of what is believed to be a young man who died in the park sometime between 1971 and 1978.
Police hope the reconstruction will prompt the public, friends, or co-workers from that time to provide new information to identify the person and bring resolution to his family and friends.
The human remains were first discovered on April 19, 1980, by a hiker using the Hardwood Lookout Trail near Whitney. The hiker had taken a shortcut off the trail and found the remains approximately 77 metres from trail marker number five.
A subsequent search of the immediate area located more evidence, including a size 11 Greb-brand boot, a wallet containing no identification, clothing, a black sleeping bag, a camp stove, and an aluminium cooking pot. In 1995, another search of the area resulted in more remains being recovered.
Forensic anthropological analysis suggests that the remains were from a Caucasian male aged 18 to 29 years. He had blonde hair varying in length from six to 11 inches, which may have been worn in a ponytail. His belt showed wear at the 32-inch hole.
The cause of the man’s death is not known, but information recovered from the scene and a stamp found in the wallet led analysts to determine that his death occurred between July 1, 1971 and spring of 1978.
Anyone with new information on the case can call a dedicated missing persons hotline toll-free at 1-877-934-6363 (1-877-9-FINDME) in Canada only, or 1-705-330-4144 from outside Canada. You can also submit information by e-mail at opp.isb.resolve@opp.ca.
