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Do these items look familiar? Police trying to identify man who died in 2016

Man had been travelling west along Hwy 17 when he died

Ontario Provincial Police are seeking the assistance of the public to identify a man who died on the coast of Lake Superior, near Montreal River Harbour in 2016.

Prior to his death, the man was believed to be travelling along Highway 17 between Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie. 

The office of the chief coroner and the Ontario forensic pathology service have determined that the man was approximately 5-3 to 5-8 tall and between the ages of 45 to 65. He was believed to be wearing a blue JanSport backpack and may have been carrying a long cardboard box containing a rifle.

In addition, the man had a number of personal effects with him, including:

  • Black San Diego Chargers baseball hat
  • An axe with a wooden handle and leather cover
  • A tent in a blue cover
  • Blue jeans
  • A dark windbreaker jacket with the words "Direct Energy" embroidered on the front
  • A white collared shirt with blue vertical stripes
  • Brown and beige shoes with white shoe laces
  • A pocket knife with a purple carabiner attached
  • Top-rimmed eye glasses with black case
  • A small, red flashlight
  • An orange utility knife

Police believe that someone out there knows what happened to this man.

"The OPP has conducted an extensive investigation into this man's identity-as we do with all missing persons. In spite of our efforts, this case remains unsolved," said Detective Inspector Rob Matthews, Criminal Investigation Branch.

"We need your help to help bring resolution to this case and bring closure to the man's loved ones."

The OPP have provided photos of the man's personal affects and they can be viewed in the gallery above.

"Help us identify this man. You may have met him at some point in your life and can recognize the items in these photos. You could be the key. If this man sounds even vaguely familiar to you, please call us," said Inspector Tina Chalk, counter exploitatioin and missing persons section.

"No tip is too small - you could hold that information that can help us solve the mystery of this man's identity and help the family understand what happened to their loved one."  

Further information about this man's case is available in a video which can be viewed below.

Any person with information regarding the disappearance of this man should immediately contact your local police service or the Ontario Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains at 1-877-934-6363 (9-FINDME) in Canada, at 705-330-4144 internationally, or via email at [email protected].

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.