Detectives and amateur sleuths believe they have found a crucial clue in the mysterious 1987 death of a man found hanging from a tree in Coronation Wood, near Lichfield. A key fob with the number '6' found on the man may be the key to identifying him.
The man, described as a 'friendly loner' who spoke 'good English with a strong Eastern European accent', was discovered on Sunday, April 5, 1987, by two men shooting in the woods. He was in his mid-50s, 5ft 8ins (173cm), of slender build, with short, dark mousy hair greying at the sides and back, and a greying moustache. Distinctively, he only had two teeth in his bottom jaw.
New appeal yields promising leads
Mark Greenhalgh, CEO of Locate International, a charity investigating cold cases, said: 'We take all possible leads seriously, but this one appears especially promising.' He added: 'Someone of this description would have stood out, so we're confident other people will remember him from the Lichfield area at the time.'
Locate International teamed up with Staffordshire Police to launch a new appeal last month, which led to several people getting in touch. They suggested a man bearing a similar appearance swam at the weekend in the now-closed Friary School's pool in the mid-1980s.
Key fob may be from swimming pool locker
Investigators are now looking into whether the key fob with the number '6' might have been used at the swimming pool lockers. The fob was among a handful of personal items found on the man, including handkerchiefs, a blue comb, a disposable lighter, two copper coins, and two 'Ladbrokes' pens. These items suggest he may have spent time at betting shops.
Detective Chief Inspector Louise Booker, of Staffordshire Police, said: 'We are determined to identify this man and establish who he was after nearly 40 years. We urge anyone who recognises his description, clothing or personal belongings to come forward. No piece of information is too small and could help us finally provide answers about his identity.'
Public asked for help
Detectives are asking the public to answer new questions: Did you use Friary School swimming pool in the early to mid-1980s, or work there? Do you recall an Eastern European or Russian man matching this description? What do you remember about him? Do you have any photos from the swimming pool at the time? Could the key fob have come from the swimming pool?
Anyone with information is urged to email appeals@locate.international, call 0300 102 1011, or contact Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting crime reference: 147 of 12/05/2026.
