Charity appeals to identify man found dead in Essex in 1979

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 17:09 · Archive

A man found dead at Newland Grove Nature Reserve in Little Waltham, Essex, on 14 September 1979 has never been identified. Locate International, a charity that investigates long-term missing persons and unidentified cases, is now appealing for information that could finally establish his identity.

According to the charity, the man was white European and appeared to be aged between 55 and 60. He was between 173cm and 175cm tall, of medium build, and had short grey hair and a moustache. Investigators believe he had the appearance of being homeless and may have complained of stomach pains in the years before his death.

At the time he was found, he was wearing a grey striped single-breasted jacket, charcoal grey trousers, a dark brown shirt, grey braces and black lace-up boots with ties wrapped around the tops. Several items found with him may provide clues to his identity. He was carrying a silver-coloured Ingersoll watch stored inside a mottled red plastic purse and was wearing a plain gold-coloured ring on the third finger of his right hand.

A notable item discovered with the man was a traffic warden's belt bearing the handwritten words 'Stw 1 Gowman' on the inside. This distinctive item may help identify him, though its significance remains unclear. Despite the passage of nearly 50 years, no one has come forward to identify the man or claim his possessions.

Locate International is urging anyone with information about the man, his clothing or his possessions to come forward. The charity hopes that details about the traffic warden's belt, the watch, or his general appearance might prompt someone to recognise him.

How it is being reported

• Appeal to identify man found dead in Essex nature reserveLocate International seeks to identify a man found dead at Newland Grove Nature Reserve, Essex, in 1979. Could his clothing or possessions help name him.Echo (Basildon) · 8 Oct, 15:58
• Appeal to identify man found dead in Essex nature reserveLocate International seeks to identify a man found dead at Newland Grove Nature Reserve, Essex, in 1979. Could his clothing or possessions help name him.Colchester Gazette · 8 Oct, 15:58
• Appeal to identify man found dead in Essex nature reserveLocate International seeks to identify a man found dead at Newland Grove Nature Reserve, Essex, in 1979. Could his clothing or possessions help name him.Brentwood Guardian · 8 Oct, 15:58

In this story: Locate International · Newland Grove Nature Reserve · Little Waltham · Essex

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem