Post by hi224 on Mar 18, 2019 17:14:15 GMT
The discovery:
In March of 1971, unidentified male remains were found in a shallow grave beside the River Trent in Winshill, Staffordshire, UK. The body was dubbed 'Fred the Head' by the locals and the media (which I feel is a somewhat comedic name all things considered). He was found by an off-duty special constable, David Nathan, he claimed what he found was something like what a dog had unearthed — what looked like an old bag of cement. Experts claim that the degree of decomposition suggested the body had been buried years, even decades, earlier than its discovery. However, I also came across a conflicting source that suggests the body was there for around nine to 12 months. (I'm unsure which is correct)
The circumstances:
Over the years forensic advances have proven that he was aged between 23 and 39 when he was killed. He had undergone extensive dental work. He suffered from torticollis, a condition that would have meant his head lolled to the right, meaning his lower jaw jutted out. An article suggested the body partially buried in a kneeling position and with his hands and ankles tied behind his back. He wore a ladies 9ct gold wedding ring on his right finger along with a pair of pink socks.
Other information:
The family of Henry Jones, a man who went missing from Llangollen, Wales in 1970, contacted Staffordshire police after the case was shown on BBC’s Crimewatch Roadshow, but a DNA test ruled out the possibility, diminishing the most promising lead. Despite a reconstruction of the man’s head and even a book (published in 2008) and DNA's test, nothing has resulted in the identification of Fred the Head.
I thought I would submit the case here, as I found it interesting that despite the detailed e-fit and having such unique, public information about the remains - such as the fact he suffered from torticollis (which would have been visible) along with having extensive dental work done, he still has not been claimed or ever recognised from the reconstruction. After reading the articles, even though various details are available, I have not come across the cause of death but the description of the book reads he was 'violently murdered'.
Sorry if there are any mistakes within this write up, especially as I found some details conflict with each other.
What are your thoughts on the case?
Sources:
www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/fred-the-head-mystery-burton-2304660
www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/nostalgia/riddle-kneeling-body-pink-socks-13400356
In March of 1971, unidentified male remains were found in a shallow grave beside the River Trent in Winshill, Staffordshire, UK. The body was dubbed 'Fred the Head' by the locals and the media (which I feel is a somewhat comedic name all things considered). He was found by an off-duty special constable, David Nathan, he claimed what he found was something like what a dog had unearthed — what looked like an old bag of cement. Experts claim that the degree of decomposition suggested the body had been buried years, even decades, earlier than its discovery. However, I also came across a conflicting source that suggests the body was there for around nine to 12 months. (I'm unsure which is correct)
The circumstances:
Over the years forensic advances have proven that he was aged between 23 and 39 when he was killed. He had undergone extensive dental work. He suffered from torticollis, a condition that would have meant his head lolled to the right, meaning his lower jaw jutted out. An article suggested the body partially buried in a kneeling position and with his hands and ankles tied behind his back. He wore a ladies 9ct gold wedding ring on his right finger along with a pair of pink socks.
Other information:
The family of Henry Jones, a man who went missing from Llangollen, Wales in 1970, contacted Staffordshire police after the case was shown on BBC’s Crimewatch Roadshow, but a DNA test ruled out the possibility, diminishing the most promising lead. Despite a reconstruction of the man’s head and even a book (published in 2008) and DNA's test, nothing has resulted in the identification of Fred the Head.
I thought I would submit the case here, as I found it interesting that despite the detailed e-fit and having such unique, public information about the remains - such as the fact he suffered from torticollis (which would have been visible) along with having extensive dental work done, he still has not been claimed or ever recognised from the reconstruction. After reading the articles, even though various details are available, I have not come across the cause of death but the description of the book reads he was 'violently murdered'.
Sorry if there are any mistakes within this write up, especially as I found some details conflict with each other.
What are your thoughts on the case?
Sources:
www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/fred-the-head-mystery-burton-2304660
www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/nostalgia/riddle-kneeling-body-pink-socks-13400356