Coquitlam RCMP are hoping to jog memories and identify a man whose body was found 20 years ago but has never been claimed by his family.
On July 2, 1998, a man’s body was discovered by someone walking their dog near the Port Coquitlam cemetery.
In spite of getting a composite drawing, a DNA profile and help from forensic experts, police have not been able to identify the mystery man over the last two decades.
“Now, we’re asking for your help to solve the puzzle and return the man to his family,” Coquitlam RCMP said in a press release.
In poor health when he died, the man may have been homeless or transient.
He had the following characteristics that may spark a memory, according to police. He was between the age of 35 and 50 years old when he died, was between 5’6 to 6’, of mixed Caucasian and First Nations ancestry and wearing blue dress pants and a red t-shirt when he died.
He also had visible tooth decay and a missing upper front tooth, which was probably removed at least one year before his death. His also had a healed broken nose that may have appeared slightly lopsided or crooked.
Experts also found that he had Osgood Schlatter disease, a condition that develops during adolescence and appears as a bump on the shin above the knee. It is commonly found in young people who play physically demanding sports such as soccer or hockey.
The body that was found may have already been dead between two and 10 years, police say.
The file was never closed and the RCMP continue to seek answers.
If the mystery man sounds like someone you recognize, or you know a family who lost someone, please call the Coquitlam RCMP non-emergency line at 604-945-1550 and ask for Constable Michael Keller (file 1998-25600).
