A coroner has confirmed the cause of death for a mystery man whose mummified remains were discovered in Suffolk in 2020. The man's legs, feet, and arms were found by a dog walker in the River Stour on August 27, 2020. Police divers later discovered skull fragments, bones, and teeth in a plastic bag about 150 metres along the river.
Coroner's ruling
Suffolk's senior coroner Nigel Parsley ruled that the man, known as The Croft Man, died from a 'violent assault'. Radiocarbon dating suggests he was born before the early 1950s and died between 2008 and 2012, likely in his 60s or 70s. There have been no matches in any national or international database for missing people or criminal activity, so his identity remains unknown.
Parsley noted that the removal of his hands and other head injuries 'appear to have been an attempt to hamper his identification'. He concluded it was 'more likely than not the Croft Man was unlawfully killed'.
Pathologist's findings
Pathologist Dr Ginni Fitzpatrick-Swallow could not give a cause of death but said there had been 'multiple blows to the head'. She added: 'To completely destroy a skull like that seems from a dismemberment point of view unnecessary.'
Discovery details
Dog walker Julie Dunn-Beechin said she spotted two black bin bags in the water and her dogs began to sniff around. She said it 'didn't seem right' so called the park ranger. Ranger Samuel Morgan told the court he looked through a small hole in the bag to see 'what I thought looked like mummified skin and bone'. Inside the bag were rocks, bricks, and what looked like 'a partially dissolved Toilet Duck soap', as well as an arm ball joint.
Police were called, and a fingertip search of the riverbed two days later discovered a third bag. Superintendent Mike Brown of Suffolk Police told the inquest they estimated the bags were dropped around two weeks before, between August 13 and 19.
Investigation
Brown said: 'The most likely and preferred hypothesis is that there's a criminal element,' suggesting the person could have 'skill in butchery'. DNA testing indicated a white northern European male with blonde or light hair and blue or green eyes. 'Our victim has likely met a violent and unnatural death,' he continued.
