The Resolve Initiative - Feature Case - Ontario Provincial Police

OPP Cold Case Investigations Reactivated

Seeking Public Help to Identify Young Man Killed in 1967

On December 17, 1967, a hunter found human skeletal remains in a wooded area of Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Victoria County, Ontario. There was no evidence of clothing at the scene other than a pair of low-cut, size 7, white, tennis shoes, manufactured in Czechoslovakia. The shoes were found some distance from the remains. An 11-foot length of twine was found with the skeleton. This piece of twine had a knotted loop immediately adjacent to the hand and wrist bones.

The victim is described as a white male, approximately 15 to 22 years old, 5 foot 3 inches tall, slight build, teeth in good condition with some fillings on the lower left and right front molars. He had a noticeable gap between his two front teeth. His hair was light brown, slightly curly and about three inches in length.

This victim had several distinguishing features: a unique condition in which he had an extra vertebrae and extra rib on the right side; and a condition that might cause his jaw to frequently become dislocated. He may have experienced pain from this and a clicking noise may have been noticeable. (Special Circular)

On May 15, 1968, a man ploughing a field in the east half of Lot 17, Concession 2, Tecumseth Township near Schomberg, Ontario, located a human skeleton.  The remains were lying against the wire fence in a hedgerow, 89 feet west of the west edge of #17 Side Road.  The hedgerow was 1.3 miles north of Highway #9.  With the help of the public this male has now been identified.

Original Investigations

The time of death for both victims is estimated to be late spring or early summer of 1967. Neither victim has been identified. No cause of death has been determined for either victim but due to the condition each was found in, it is believed that both young men were murdered.

During the original investigation, extensive efforts were made to identify the young men using dental record comparisons to missing persons matching the approximate ages and descriptions of the victims. In addition, media appeals were made to the public for assistance. These efforts were unsuccessful.

In the summer of 1967, two other young men were picked up from downtown Toronto in the Bay and College area and were taken to rural areas where they were attacked. The offences and victims were very similar to the investigations of the unidentified victims found near Balsam Lake. Because of this, it is believed that the two unidentified young men may have been picked up by their attacker(s) in downtown Toronto.

Working with Project Resolve to Reactivate Cold Cases

The OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) is reactivating the two investigations and is seeking the public’s assistance.

A forensic reconstruction artist from the Canadian Forces National Investigative Service has completed facial reconstructions of both victims in an effort to assist CIB in determining the victims’ identities.

The OPP is also offering two rewards of $50,000 each for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murders of each of these young men.

Anyone with information about the possible identities of these victims or with tips that may assist the investigations are encouraged to contact The Resolve Initiative at 1-877-9FIND ME (1-877-934-6363) or via email at opp.isb.resolve@ontario.ca, case #20060144.