Body found on Exmoor in 2002 remains unidentified

The body, wearing just underwear and Adidas shorts, was found wrapped in black bin bags was found by a passing horse rider on March 13, 2002 and it was initially mistaken for a dumped animal carcass and retrieved by Devon and Somerset Stag Hounds for disposal.

Despite an extensive police investigation and national appeals, including a reconstruction on Crimewatch in 2002, the body has never been identified and the mystery surrounding the man’s death continues.

While the cause of death remains undetermined, there’s evidence the man suffered injuries consistent with a violent assault before his death, which was sometime between late 1999 and 2000.

The man was also wearing this necklace

Following analysis of satellite photographs, police believe the body may have been kept elsewhere for a significant period of time before being buried on Exmoor at some point after May 2001.

Avon and Somerset told the County Gazette this week (March 22, 2022) that: "We will never give up trying to identify the body of the man whose remains were found on Exmoor 20 years ago.

"We regularly review this case in the search for answers for both the sake of his family and to bring the person or people responsible for his tragic end to justice.

"Over the years we have carried out exhaustive enquiries, tracing hundreds of reporting missing people and following up on multiple leads from members of the public.

"We’ve also sought input from leading scientific experts from around the UK and Europe, including anthropologists, pathologists, dental morphology specialists and experts in Mitochondrial DNA analysis. While we have a full DNA profile of the man, his identity frustratingly remains unknown.

"No case is ever closed and our Major Crime Review Team will always welcome any information which could potentially help establish who the man was and what happened to him.

"If you can help, please call the team via 101 and tell the call handler you are calling about Operation Glacier."