Shropshire Star

Unidentified corpses and body parts remain mysteries

Three unidentified corpses remain unsolved on police files across Shropshire and Mid Wales.

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The unidentified bodies and body parts – dating back 50 years – include a human skull found in dense woodland at a Shropshire beauty spot and two decomposed bodies, one found in the River Severn and the other in woodland in Powys.

DNA tests, public appeals and investigations to trace the families and therefore those who died have led nowhere.

Their details lie on the filed of West Mercia Police and Dyfed Powys Police with little realistic chance of ever being solved.

The cases emerged following a Freedom of Information request.

One of the cases that remains a mystery is a skull discovered on Sweeney Mountain in Oswestry that belonged to a man who died 50 years ago.

Police at the scene at Sweeney mountain near Oswestry in Shropshire, in November 2013 as they investigated the discovery of bones in the location

Officers are continuing their efforts to unravel the mystery after the skull was found by a dog with a shooting party in November 2013.

No other bones were found during extensive police searches of the area and pathologists have been unable to determine the cause of death or if the man was a victim of crime.

But scientific study of the remains has provided some clues.

The skull is from a man who died over 50 years ago

These were outlined by Detective Sergeant Allan Crossley during an inquest opened by the Shropshire coroner Mr John Ellery last year.

The skull, which has the jaw missing , does not appear to have been buried.

It seems to have been lying on the surface for a relatively short time before being found.

Police are now hoping someone will come forward with an explanation as they continue efforts to identify the man.

Although it has not been possible to gauge physical details such as height or build, detailed forensic studies through anthropology, odontology, pathology, carbon-dating, DNA and botany, have provided some important information.

The skull is thought to be that of a fairly young man, aged between 25 to 40, and of Afro Caribbean ethnic origin.

Tests on the teeth and soil found in the bone cavities have revealed further clues. They suggest his diet was not typical of northern latitudes such as wheat, barley, and oats but more likely to be maize, sorghum or millet.

Plant debris from the skull does not appear to be from Britain or North West Europe but points to a sandy habitat, possibly from a Mediterranean or tropical country.

Detective Inspector Steve Tonks, the senior investigating officer, said: "We know from DNA profile analysis he is not on missing persons' or other data bases.

"It seems likely the skull was deposited where it was found relatively recently and a number of years following death. It also seems likely that the individual has lived and indeed died, outside of the UK.

"However, we are appealing to anyone who can assist us by throwing light on the mystery behind this find."

Meanwhile, the mystery of a white European man, aged between 45 to 60, who was found in the River Severn remains unsolved.

Officers believe he was in the water for several weeks before the discovery in April 1980.

The man had been wearing a navy blue suit, a checked raincoat and a green shirt.

Another decomposed body was found in woods at Mynydd Fronfelin two mile north of Ceinws near Machynlleth, Powys in 2000.

The white European man was aged between 25 and 65 and was not identified.

Those with information about any of the cases should call police on 101 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

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