BySue Tiffin
Published July 26 2017

Areconstructed image of a young man whose remains were found inAlgonquin Park in 1980 has been released by police in the hopes ofsolving a nearly 40-year-old cold case.

The3-D clay facial reconstruction unveiled in a news conference held inOrillia on July 26 is intended to prompt the public friends orco-workers from that time to help identify the individual.

Theremains of what is believed to be a Caucasian man aged 18-29 werefound by a hiker approximately 77 metres from trail marker numberfive on the Hardwood Lookout Trail in Algonquin Park near Whitney onApril 19 1980. Nearby in the area a search uncovered a size 11Greb-brand boot a wallet containing no identification clothing ablack sleeping bag a camp stove and an aluminum cooking pot. Laterin 1995 another search uncovered more remains.

Forensicanthropological analysis suggests the man had long blonde hair whichmight have been worn in a ponytail and that his waist was 32-inchesbased on marks on his belt.

Astamp found in his wallet alongside other information at the sceneled investigators to believe his death might have occurred betweenJuly 1 1971 and spring 1978. The cause of his death is unknown.

"Throughinnovation technology and the expert work of the OPP Forensic Artistand our partnership with the Office of the Chief Coroner and theOntario Forensic Pathology Service we are hopeful we can identifythis person and bring resolution to his loved ones” said J.V.N.(Vince) Hawkes Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner in a pressrelease. “They deserve to know what happened to him."

Anyonewith information regarding the case should call the dedicated missingpersons hotline toll-free at 1-877-934-6363 (1-877-9-FINDME) or1-705-330-4144 from outside Canada or email tips to opp.isb.resolve@opp.ca