The UK Missing Persons Unit publish the details of all bodies found where police have no idea who they are
The bodies of 22 people discovered across Devon and Cornwall have never been identified by police.
Some of them have remained unidentified for more than 50 years – but the most recent gruesome discovery was unearthed in 2011.
The UK Missing Persons Unit publish the details of all bodies found where police have no idea who they are, in the hopes that a member of the public will be able to identify them.
Of the dozen cases in Devon, the oldest dates back to 1968 when, in April, a man’s body was recovered from the sea at Wembury.
It is believed he may have been a seaman lost overboard in the Channel.
The police estimated that he was aged between 40 and 50, and was of white European descent. He was 175cm tall, of stocky build, and dark hair.
The most recent remains found in Devon and Cornwall that has left police stumped is a partial jawbone that was found on Putsborough Beach in North Devon on 30 January 2011.
There is some indication that the jawbone belonged to a man, and his age is believed to have been between 20 and 40 years old.
The only other detail available is that one of the teeth has a filling with material that has not been used for around the last 10 years.
Most of the unidentified bodies found in Devon and Cornwall are male, although there is one case of a female who has tragically died with no friends or relatives to identify her.
Her decomposed body was found washed ashore at Millook Beach in Cornwall on 24 August 1979. It was believed to have been in the water for between three and six months.
The police put her age at between 25 and 30, she was of white European descent, and had a slim build.
The full list of the 22 unidentified bodies in Devon and Cornwall is as follows (more details via the links):
Male aged 40 – 50 found on 23/04/68 // Recovered from the sea at Wembury. Believed he may be a seaman lost overboard in the Channel. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024621
Male aged 35 – 45 found on 05/11/69 // Decomposed body recovered from the sea near Cadgwith. Believed to have been in the water approximately 3 to 4 months. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024623
Male aged 30 – 40 found on 17/03/70 // Decomposed body found buried in pebbles above water mark at Glenthorne. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024624
Male aged 35 – 45 found on 02/05/70 // Found by a Russian trawler in the sea and brought ashore at Plymouth. A stretch bandage was found across his ribs indicating he had suffered some recent chest injury. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024627
Male aged 25 – 30 found on 22/07/73 // Decomposed remains found on 22 July 1973 at Crackington Haven. Further remains believed to be from the same male were found on 29 July 1973. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024613
Male aged 20 – 20 found on 12/12/73 // Body found at Fort Bovisland. Believed to have been in the water approximately 2 months. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/08-033697
Male aged 30 – 50 found on 05/11/75 // Decomposed body washed ashore at South Milton Sands. Believed to have been in the water a long time. Wore dentures. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024906
Male aged 30 – 50 found on 29/02/76 // Decomposed body found at Leedon Tor. Believed to have been dead 2 to 4 weeks. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024907
Male aged 30 – 45 found on 16/07/77 // Decomposed body recovered from the sea at Newquay. Believed to have been dead between 10 days and 3 months. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024889
Male aged 30 – 45 found on 22/01/78 // Decomposed body found on Pothcothnan Beach. Believed to have been in the water at least 1 month. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024896
Male aged 40 – 60 found on 21/02/79 // Decomposed body found on the beach at Port Minnick. Believed to have been in the water at least 4 months. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-026110
Female aged 25 – 30 found on 24/08/79 // Decomposed body found washed ashore at Millook Beach. Believed to have been in the water 3 to 6 months. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-023712
Male aged 25 – 45 found on 09/10/81 // Decomposed body found on Sandymouth Beach. Believed to have been in the water 2 to 3 months. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-024323
Male aged 45 – 65 found on 03/12/83 // Decomposed body recovered from the sea between Pencra Head and Manacles Point, Truro. Believed to have been in the water between 6 weeks and 3 months. Evidence of arthritis of the spine. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-026123
Male aged 30 – 35 found on 24/09/97 // Found deceased in hotel room in Torquay. Believed he committed suicide. Gave false details on check in. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/03-001256
Male aged 35 – 55 found on 26/09/97 // Found floating in the sea at Porthgwarra. Believed to have been in the water for up to 7 days. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/03-001254
Male aged 18 – 25 found on 28/03/99 // Decomposed body found at Steeple Cove Soar. Believed to have been there several weeks. Evidence he had recently had emergency treatment on one of his teeth. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/03-001116
Male aged 40 – 100 found on 12/10/01 // Body found north of Trevose Head. Believed to have been in the water between 2 weeks and 2 months. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/03-000093
Male aged 16 – 40 found on 26/07/05 // Skull trawled up in fishing nets 6 miles South East of Start Point. Believed to have been in the water 3 to 4 months. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/06-026457
Male aged 30 – 100 found on 19/04/07 // Remains found in scrubland at the bottom of the cliff on Weston Mouth Beach. Believed the remains have been there between 40 and 50 years based on pre-decimal coins found. Most recent dated coin was from 1954. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/07-029810
Male aged 1 – 99 found on 03/03/08 // Bone found on Green Away beach in Cornwall. Believed to have been in the water for less than 6 months. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/12-000365
Unknown aged 20 – 40 found on 30/01/11 // Partial jawbone found on Putsborough Beach, North Devon. One of the teeth has a filling with material not used for approximately 10 years. Indication that gender is male. // http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/case/11-001256
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