A cold case charity has released a new image showing what a man found dead by railway tracks may have looked like in his younger years, in a fresh bid to identify him.
The body of a man was found at Southend East station in Essex in 2000 after a train driver on the Shoebury to Fenchurch Street line spotted it at 6am on November 15 and alerted the British Transport Police. The night before had been bitterly cold, but the man appeared to have removed his upper clothing, which lay nearby.
Toxicology reports revealed no drugs and minimum alcohol in his body, but curiously he had the plastic tube from a breathalyser in his pocket. The cause of death is recorded as 'undetermined' but most likely hypothermia.
Investigation efforts so far
Intensive investigations by British Transport Police, including DNA searches in the UK and in 26 countries via Interpol, have failed to discover his identity. Earlier this year, in March, a dedicated investigation at Locate International, the only UK charity dedicated to locating the missing and naming the unidentified, started looking into the case.
After reviewing all evidence and lines of enquiry and liaising closely with police, they have released a new image of how he would look two decades before his death as a younger man. The new image highlights a distinctive mark on his left cheek, also visible on the earlier living depiction.
Appeal for information
Dr Mark Greenhalgh, CEO of Locate International, said: "This striking new image and the detailed work of our investigation team provides a real opportunity for someone to put a name to 'Southend Station Man' after 20 years. Someone out there, an old friend, workmate or distant family member could see this forensic reconstruction and help us bring closure to this cold case."
The Locate International team say they have also pursued a possible link to a family relative, Chris or Christopher Gilbert, who has so far been untraceable. Police are still trying to contact him in their non-criminal investigation, and he is the subject of a live 'Locate and Trace' by UK Policing.
Possible links and how to help
They believe Chris Gilbert may have vital information which could put a name to 'Southend Station Man'. Dr Greenhalgh added: "We would appeal to Chris or Christopher Gilbert or anyone who may know him to contact us in confidence."
The mystery man is believed to have become homeless 20 years before his death and had close links to Southend, where he attended a homeless centre in the area. He is also known to have had possible links to Skylark Tours, a tourist boat operator in Southend, where a former director who later went on to work at the homeless centre, recognised him as 'Steve, Steven or possibly Stephen' who frequented Southend Pier in the early 1990s.
The day before he died, he was last seen walking along the platform at Southend East station. He was wearing a green jacket, brown trousers, a leather belt with a gold buckle and white Tommy Hilfiger trainers. The new living image of 'Southend Station Man' was created by forensic artist Hew Morrison, depicting him approximately 20 years before his body was found.
If you have any information, please contact Locate International in confidence by emailing appeals@locate.international, by calling 0300 102 1011 or by visiting https://locate.international/contact-us.
