Summary
In March 2022, the remains of an unidentified man were found near railroad tracks in the area of St. Clarens Avenue and Dupont Street in Toronto, Ontario. The Toronto Police Service responded to the scene and ruled out foul play. The man was found without any identification so investigators compared his fingerprints to police databases to try to identify him, but there were no matches.
The Toronto Police Service continued to work to identify the man by canvassing nearby businesses, utilizing street outreach teams, collarborating with social agencies and by searching through missing person cases across Canada, including searching the National DNA Databank. Despite investigators' exhaustive efforts, the man remained unidentified and the case went cold.
In May 2024, with the approval of the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, the Toronto Police Service submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas in hopes that advanced DNA testing could help to identify the man. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Once the profile was developed, it was returned to the Toronto Police Service for use in a forensic genetic genealogy search to develop new leads in the case. Using these new leads, investigators found relatives of the man throughout Eastern Ontario.
In March 2025, the investigation revealed a possible name of the man. Members of the Toronto Police Service contacted his relatives in the Ottawa area who said they had lost contact with that man after the COVID-19 pandemic. His identity was confirmed through medical imaging records and his family was notified by members of the Ottawa Police Service. The man, from the Ottawa area, was approximately 30 years old at the time of his death. His name will not be released, at the request of family.
The identification of the man represents the 18th publicly-announced case in Ontario where investigators used technology developed by Othram to identify an individual. To read about other cases in Canada, visit the DNASolves Canada map.
Dan Miller
Director of Customer Service
Dan guides law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally through every step of the forensic process—from crime scene to courtroom. He ensures investigators have the support and resources they need to navigate advanced DNA testing and maximize the impact of forensic evidence in their cases.