More DNA testing to identify Elan Valley reservoir body

Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard on Thursday, October 22, forensic evidence suggesting the man may not have been of white European ancestry, while police revealed they are now exploring ancestry-based DNA links after extensive efforts to establish his identity failed.

The body of the man, who was wearing a wetsuit, was found lying face up in the Claerwen reservoir, in the Elan Valley, near Rhayader, on October 18, 2024.

Police Sergeant Horlock was one of the first officers on the scene and the inquest heard evidence from him that the emergency services were called after a member of the public spotted the body in the water.

When officers reached the scene, the man was "very pale, almost yellow" and his head was "badly decomposed", according to PS Horlock.

No personal belongings, identification or vehicle linked to him have ever been found.

Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard on Thursday, October 22, forensic evidence suggesting the man may not have been of white European ancestry, while police revealed they are now exploring ancestry-based DNA links after extensive efforts to establish his identity failed. (Image: Supplied)

Forensic orthodontist Dr Sally Andrews' evidence was read out, with the court told the man, believed to have been aged between 40 and 60, would have had a "striking appearance", with severe crowding of his teeth, a prominent chin and strong jaw.

She also found evidence he had "maintained a poor level of oral hygiene" and had "neglected dental care for several years".

Dr Andrews said examination of the teeth revealed the man's molars had "conical root presence", which suggested he "may not have been of white ethnicity".

Despite a major investigation, Dyfed-Powys Police has been unable to identify the man.

Officers carried out UK and international missing persons checks, notified Interpol, examined social media and fitness tracking records, and issued media appeals.

The force also commissioned a facial reconstruction, working with Face Lab, a pioneering craniofacial analysis and depiction unit, based at Liverpool John Moores University.

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Detective Inspector Anthea Ponting said investigators also found a possible name on a tag attached to the wetsuit, but scientists were "unable to enhance it any further", preventing officers from using it as a potential route to identification.

DI Ponting said officers initially prioritised facial reconstruction work over wider DNA enquiries because they hoped to secure a quick identification.

"Through consultation with the National Crime Agency, they could have provided a large number of links which would have taken up a lot of officer hours," she said.

"We wanted an identification as quickly as possible, thus went with the facial recognition option."

However, she revealed there had recently been a development in the investigation through ancestry-based DNA analysis.

"A DNA update recently through ancestry links has been discussed with the senior investigating officer and will be reviewed and taken forward," she said, although she cautioned any result could still prove inconclusive and take a significant time.

Forensic pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbitter said the advanced state of decomposition meant it was impossible to determine how the man died.

"I found nothing that I would regard as an injury," he said, adding that he could not establish whether he died after entering the water or before.

Forensic orthodontist Dr Sally Andrews' evidence was read out, with the court told the man, believed to have been aged between 40 and 60, would have had a (Image: Supplied)

Dr Leadbitter said it was "almost impossible to give any precise view" on how long the body had been in the water, estimating it may have been there for between three weeks and three months, although he admitted he could be wrong.

The pathologist had retained liver samples for analysis but added he was not aware any such analysis been conducted.

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At the conclusion of the evidence, area coroner Patricia Morgan said she was not yet able to reach a finding.

"At this stage I am not satisfied I'm able to reach a conclusion until further examination of the liver samples," she said.

"While unlikely that it will assist with reaching any cause of death, it may assist me with my findings of determining the circumstances of death, or at least narrow some aspects currently unknown, particularly whether he was dead before he entered the water or after entering the water.

"I am not satisfied I'm in a position to reach a conclusion today."

The inquest was adjourned pending the results of the additional forensic examinations.