Missing tooth holds clue to stranger’s identity

Police are appealing for help from dentists to identify a stranger found dead in woodlands on the borders of Scotland and England last Christmas.

And key in their investigations could be the forensic evidence that suggests the man had a tooth extracted six months before he died.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary are currently investigating the discovery of the body of the dead man found on 20 December 2010 at Burnside Plantation, Canonbie, Dumfries and Galloway.

The man is described as 40-60 years, white and between 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 9inches (172.72cm to 175.26cm) in height with a bald head (areas of short hair visible).

He would appear normally to be clean shaven however there is grey stubble visible on the face

There appears to a small scar to the area of his lower right abdomen

He has six teeth missing, and there is evidence that his upper left first premolar socket has not fully healed which indicates that he had this tooth extracted possibly within the last six months.

He was wearing an olive green safari type hat, brown tanned coloured cord style jacket (till receipts from a shop premises in London which were dated 1991 have been recovered from the pockets of this item of clothing), black trousers, light coloured gloves and grey ankle boots (UK size between 6-8)

A dental chart of the deceased mouth has been recorded, as follows
 
 
The dentist that recorded this chart stated that the upper left premolar socket had not fully healed indicting extraction of this tooth had been within the last six months.

This would mean that the extraction would have taken place around the spring 2010.

 

 

Recovered near to the body of the deceased was a La Repubblica newspaper dated 22 July 2010, this is a daily Italian newspaper.
 
It has been established that the male may have been within Burnside Plantation since late November 2010.

Enquiries have now been undertaken locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, however the male still remains unidentified.
 
Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary have now released further photographs of the clothing worn by the male and are appealing for any witnesses who have seen this male or can identify his clothing or facial image to contact them on 0845 600 5701 or any police officer.

 

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