Mysterious case turns to artist
3D model aimed at determining identity of man found in Niagara River in 2013
Police are hoping a 3D facial reconstruction of a man whose body was found in the Niagara River almost five years ago will lead to the individual’s identity.
The human remains were discovered July 21, 2013, in Niagara-on-theLake in an area known as Smuggler’s Cove.
“The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition thus it was not possible to determine the sex, the possible age of the individual at that time,” said Niagara Regional Police Supt. Brian Nash.
The body is believed to have been in the water for at least a year, possibly up to two or three years
An autopsy failed to confirm a cause of death and police had no information that suggested the man died under suspicious circumstances.
The Centre of Forensic Sciences was able to confirm, through DNA, the deceased person was a male. Police reviewed a number of missing persons cases both in Canada and the United States, with negative results.
After exhausting all investigative avenues, Nash said, police turned to the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service for assistance.
Officials conducted an anthropological analysis of the remains and created a biological profile of the male.
Based on the results of the anthropological exam, a forensic artist with Ontario Provincial Police developed a facial approximation of the deceased male.
“We wanted to achieve a level of likeness that someone who might be looking for him ought to recognize,” OPP forensic artist Const. Duncan Way said Wednesday during a press conference at NRP headquarters in Niagara Falls.
“Obviously, this is not an easy task, with so little details about who he was. However, this process is one of objectivity and also combines subjectivity and artist merit as well.”
The reconstruction involved taking the skull and applying tissue depth markers using formulas based on existing information about the individual. Those markers were then covered by layers of clay, which built facial features to form a 3D bust.
The end result is likely not an exact
representation of the individual, Way explained, but it should provide a good likeness of the subject.
The individual is believed to be of African descent, with possibly some European ancestry, and was between 40 and 60 years of age at the time of his death. His height was estimated to be between 5foot-5 and 5-foot-11.
The advance state of decomposition prevented an estimation of his weight but experts believe he may have been slightly overweight. Also, teeth discolouration suggest he was a smoker.
Local police have recovered 45 bodies from the Niagara River over the past six years. Of those cases, five remain unidentified.
“An unfortunate reality of the area we serve and protect, we are often called to the Niagara River each year to recover human remains,” Ash said.
“In some circumstances, due to the nature of the river, we are often dealing with remains that have been in the water for weeks, months or, in some cases, even years.”
Police are appealing to the public come forward with any information if they recognize the man.
Anyone with information can call 905-688-4111 ext. 9427, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.