Unidentified Man Found in Reservoir: Inquest Questions Ethnicity and Investigation Methods
An inquest into the death of an unidentified man found in a Powys reservoir two years ago has revealed new questions about his ethnicity and the police investigation into his identity.
The investigation into the identity of a man whose body was discovered in a reservoir two years ago has taken a new turn, as an inquest heard he may not have been of white ethnicity as initially believed. The body of the man, found wearing an open water swimming wetsuit, was discovered by a dogwalker at the Claerwen Reservoir near Rhayader in October 2024.
Despite a significant international police appeal and the use of advanced facial reimaging techniques, the man's identity and the cause of his death remain unknown. During the inquest, Coroner Patricia Morgan instructed detectives to analyze a liver sample that had been provided to police two years prior but was never tested. She indicated a desire to explore this "further line of inquiry" before reaching a conclusion.
The inquest was informed that the man's remains could have been in the water for over three months before they were discovered. Tests are intended to determine if he died before or after entering the water.
Further details revealed that while the police force had run the man's DNA through their databases, they had not utilized commercial DNA sites, which are commonly used by individuals researching their family history. Detective Inspector Anthea Ponting stated to the inquest that the force had considered using such sites at the time but were advised it could require substantial resources. She explained that while the National Crime Agency could filter results, it could still lead to a large number of leads requiring extensive officer time to investigate. The priority at the time was to identify the man as quickly as possible, and facial recognition was believed to be a more far-reaching approach.
Initial inquiries had provided authorities with an estimated age, height, and build for the man: between 30 and 60 years old, approximately 6 feet tall, and weighing between 202 and 220 pounds, and of white European descent. However, forensic orthodontist Dr. Sally Andrew provided written evidence suggesting, based on her examination of the man's teeth and jaw, that he "may not have been of white ethnicity."
Additionally, the hearing was informed that an examination of a tag on the wetsuit revealed marks that could potentially be a name, but scientific support officers were unable to enhance these markings. The inquest has been adjourned pending the results of the liver sample test.