Toronto cops credit genetic genealogy for cracking nearly 30-year-old cold case
Toronto Police provided an update on the cold case Wednesday, saying that on Aug. 23, 1996, the body of a man was found in a downtown field near Lake Shore Blvd. and Spadina Ave. He did not have any identification or possessions with him and had been there for some time, police said.
Attempts were made to identify the man by sifting through missing person cases, but police said no match was found.
'In recent years, his DNA was compared to the DNA of relatives in the National DNA Databank, but he remained unidentified,' Toronto Police said in a news release.
In May 2024, with the approval of the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Toronto Police began using investigative genetic genealogy for the case.
'The investigation found distant relatives who traced their heritage to Quebec,' police said. 'In November 2024, the investigation focused on a man from Quebec.'
In March, police said the DNA comparison between the deceased and suspected relatives confirmed his identity and Montreal Police notified his family.
The man's identity is not being released and police said no foul play is suspected.
Toronto Police also credited the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Othram Labs, Centre of Forensic Sciences, National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains, National DNA Databank, Montreal Police, Ottawa Police and the Quebec laboratoire de medicine for their help.
Anyone with further information can contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 or 222tips.com.
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