Hamilton Police release Facial Reconstruction in attempt to identify Found Human Remains

HAMILTON - In an attempt to make an identification, Hamilton Police are releasing facial reconstruction photos from human remains that were found in the Glanbrook area one year ago.



On April 9th, 2007 at approximately 6:10 p.m. a Glanbrook resident was walking their dog along Glancaster Road when they observed an object in the ditch just off the west side of the roadway. They took a closer look and believed that what they were looking at was a human skull. The Hamilton Police Service was notified and responded to the scene.

Coroner Dr. Richard Porter attended the scene, confirmed that the skull was human, and issued a warrant for a post mortem to be conducted on the remains at the Hamilton General Hospital.

On April 18th, 2007 Hamilton Police commenced a search of the area utilizing their Ground Search and Rescue Team, O.P.P. cadaver dogs and volunteers from the community. Approximately one hour into the search, O.P.P. cadaver dogs located human remains near the intersection of Glancaster Road and Fiddlers Green Road in a heavily forested area.

Coroner Dr. Richard Porter again attended the scene and ordered that the human remains be taken to the Hamilton General Hospital for an autopsy. The scene was photographed and videotaped by members of the Hamilton Police Service Forensic Unit.

An autopsy was conducted at the Hamilton General Morgue by Forensic Pathologist Dr. Chitra Rao and Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Shelley R. Saunders of McMaster University. As a result, the skull initially recovered was positively matched to the remains located in the wooded area. Foul play has been ruled out.

On May 11th, 2007 the Hamilton Police Service and McMaster University Anthropology students re-attended the location where the remains were located and conducted another search locating additional exhibits for the investigation.

The human remains are described as follows:

- White male aged 40-65 (believed to be closer to 50-65)
- 5'7" - 6'1" in height
- No upper teeth, but 6 lower teeth which are visible in the facial reconstruction
- Time of death is estimated to be the summer or early fall of 2006, but cannot be ruled out as occurring in the fall of 2005 or spring of 2006
- Grey or light coloured hair 2-3 inches in length

Seized from the body were the following items:

- A size 9 1/2 walking shoe that was white in colour
- A blue and green spring season type jacket
- A black leather belt
- Wrangler blue jeans sized 34" x 34"
- A pair of Fruit of the Loom underwear
- A silver folding knife in a black sheath attached to the belt
- Silver wrist watch removed from left wrist - Brand U.S. Army
- A lighter, pen and pair of nail clippers >>

Hamilton Police have made several attempts to identify these human remains with negative results. There are currently no active missing person reports matching the description of the found human remains and all surrounding jurisdictions have been made aware of the find.

DNA has been extracted from the femur of the found human remains by members of the Centre of Forensic Sciences and is available for comparison.

To further the investigation, Hamilton Police arranged through the Office of the Chief Coroner, to have a facial reconstruction completed on the skull. Attached are several photos of the facial reconstruction and items seized from the deceased at the time the remains were located by Hamilton Police.

The Hamilton Police Service is asking that the public visit the O.P.P.'s Resolve Initiative website at: www.opp.ca and the Hamilton Police Service website at: www.hamiltonpolice.on.ca to take a closer look at the facial reconstruction and at the articles found with the human remains.