Police release facial reconstruction in effort to identify man found in bag in 2012

Police are appealing for help to identify a man found stuffed into a bag almost a decade ago - now they hope new artist impressions will help someone recognise him. SEE VIDEO

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THE identity of a man found in a bag on the Tweed River banks almost a decade ago remains a mystery but police have released a new image, created using technology, hoping someone will recognise him.

His badly decomposed body was found by a member of the public in a cotton-fibre style bag on the bank of the Tweed River at Tumbulgum, about 10km east of Murwillumbah, on November, 24, 2012.

To coincide with National Missing Persons Week, New South Wales police are renewing their appeal to identify the man almost 10 years on.

A post portem at the time revealed the remains were of a man between 50 and 70 years old but was unable to determine his cause of death.

The body was heavily decomposed and there was no visible signs of injury.

Police said the man was 163cm tall, with a thin build and grey hair tied in a ponytail with a blue band and further investigations have revealed the man wore dentures.

Detectives were unable to identify the man at the time despite exhaustive inquiries and comparisons to missing person’s cases from across the country.

The identity of a man found in a bag on the banks of the Tweed River almost a decade ago remains a mystery but police have released a new image, created using technology, in the hope someone will recognise him. Picture: NSW Police

Tweed/Byron detectives established Strike Force Tukara to investigate the man’s death and to determine his identity.

A coronial inquest in 2013 found the man could not be identified, and the date, place, manner and cause of his death were undetermined.

Detectives have worked closely with forensic experts to conduct a range of DNA tests, including phenotyping, which involves using genetic sequencing to predict a person’s physical characteristics.

In early 2020, investigators engaged a forensic artist from the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee in Scotland to construct a 3D virtual sculpture and digital forensic facial reconstruction.

Tweed Richmond Police District Detective Chief Inspector Brendon Cullen Photo: Jessica Lamb

Investigators have released the artist’s impressions developed through the reconstruction, which depict what the man may have looked like and are appealing for assistance from the Australian community to help identify him.

Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Brendon Cullen, of Tweed/Byron Police District, urged people across the country – particularly in northern NSW and South East Queensland – to look at the the image in the hope they may recognise this man from their past.

“This kind of technology allows us to apply all the scientific and DNA analysis which we have obtained so far and piece together the most accurate depiction of this man’s appearance,” he said.

“We have no doubt there are friends and family members somewhere around Australia who have a relative or loved one who just vanished – perhaps they weren’t listed as a missing person at the time. Maybe they are someone who you lost contact with in the early 2010s.

“While we are yet to find a match on any Missing Persons database, we are confident there is someone out there who will know this man and recognise his features.

“Any piece of information which could help us find out who he is will help us establish his links, his history, his associates, and ultimately determine the circumstances surrounding his death.”

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact Tweed Heads Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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