Detectives have launched a fresh appeal to solve a chilling murder mystery after human remains were discovered in a Welsh forest once used as a dumping ground by a notorious serial killer.
A Grim Discovery Amidst Rally Excitement
The case dates back to 14 November 2015, when two brothers, Mark and Andrew Middle, travelled to Clocaenog Forest in north Wales to watch the Wales GB Rally. While setting up camp, they made a horrifying discovery: part of a human skull.
Their find triggered a major forensic excavation by North Wales Police, which unearthed the near-complete skeleton of an unidentified male. The victim, dubbed 'Clocaenog Forest Man', had suffered a violent death, with a post-mortem revealing blunt force injuries to his skull. Forensic analysis suggested he had been killed possibly more than a decade before being found, sometime between 2004 and 2011.
Eerie Proximity to a Serial Killer's Crimes
Adding a macabre layer to the mystery, the remains were found close to where serial killer Peter Moore dumped one of his victims over thirty years ago. Moore, a cinema owner known as 'the Man in Black', murdered four men in a sexually motivated spree in late 1995. He is now serving a whole life tariff.
Despite this proximity, police have not publicly linked Moore to this death. The focus remains squarely on identifying the victim and finding his killer.
The Forensic Profile and Renewed Hope
Despite a full DNA profile being extracted from the bones, no match has been found on any police or missing persons databases. However, detectives are hopeful that advances in forensic technology may finally provide a breakthrough.
Investigators believe the man was:
- Born before 1950 and of Caucasian descent.
- Between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 10.5ins tall and well-built.
- Likely suffered long-term back problems from fused vertebrae.
- Missing several teeth before his death.
Police have reissued computer-generated images showing how he may have looked in his 50s, 60s, and 70s, due to uncertainty over his exact age at death.
Mark Pierce, who leads the force's major crime review team, stated: "This man was someone's family member or friend, and we believe there will be people out there who recognise him. Advances in DNA analysis give us the opportunity to cross-reference samples... potentially yielding a familial link."
A Plea for Information and a Substantial Reward
North Wales Police are urging anyone with information to come forward, particularly those who knew someone matching the description who went missing in the mid-2000s. The investigation, named Operation Tractile, has always treated the death as murder.
The charity Crimestoppers has offered a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Hayley Fry, Crimestoppers' national manager for Wales, emphasised: "You can tell us what you know whilst staying completely anonymous. We don’t want your name, just what you know. Every piece of information could make a difference."
Anyone with information is asked to contact North Wales Police via 101 or their website, quoting Operation Tractile.
