Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued a plea for help from the public Thursday as they try to determine the identity of a man from Alberta found dead on a beach north of Port Albert, Ont.
According to police, officers discovered the body on Oct. 15. The OPP is releasing few details and did not say whether the man’s death is suspicious or not except to say the “investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.”
However, police said over the course of their investigation, they’ve learned a journalist working in northern Ontario had photographed the man near Espanola, Ont. in September and that the victim had travelled from Alberta to Ontario under the assumed name of Mitchell Nelson.
The OPP said it is now working to confirm the victim’s real name and has released a photo and description of the man in the hopes a member of the public will come forward.
“It is unfortunate we have to notify the next-of-kin in this manner, but we have no other option other than to seek help from the public in this instance,” Huron County OPP Detachment Commander Insp. Jason Younan, said in a statement.
Police provided the following description of the man found on the beach:
- 30 to 60 years old;
- Balding with grey hair;
- Thin moustache;
- Average to medium build;
- Wearing a blue “Fluid” lifejacket, black fleece-type pullover or jacket, black wind pants with the letters “PEP” on a shield and black Nike running shoes.
Police did not say where in Alberta the man was from.
Port Albert, Ont. is about 120 kilometres north of London, Ont.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Huron County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police detachment. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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