Clocaenog Forest Man

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

North Wales (POLICE)

Recovery Location:

Corwen, Wales

Summary:

An unidentified murder victim discovered in Clocaenog Forest, Denbighshire, Wales on November 14, 2015. The skeletal remains of a European white male, believed to have been born before 1950 and aged in his 50s-60s at death, were found by two brothers camping during the Wales Rally GB. The victim died from blunt force trauma to the head and was likely murdered between 2004 and 2010, then dumped at the forest location. Despite extensive investigations, facial reconstruction, and appeals, the victim remains unidentified.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Recovery:

On November 14, 2015, brothers Andrew and Mark Middle were camping in Clocaenog Forest near Corwen while attending the Wales Rally GB motor rally event. Late that evening, while Mark Middle was using a torch to search for firewood, he discovered what appeared to be a rock on the forest floor. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a human skull covered in moss and largely concealed by undergrowth. The brothers contacted North Wales Police at 20:35. Police attended the scene near Pentre-llyn-Cymmer and Llyn Brenig and confirmed the remains were human. Over the following three weeks, a large-scale police search of the forest recovered virtually an entire male skeleton from dense trees and undergrowth, located a few meters from where the skull was initially found. The remains were removed two days after discovery and examined by a pathologist. Post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death was murder by blunt force trauma to the skull. A full DNA profile was successfully extracted from the skeletal remains.

Additional Details:

Forensic analysis indicates the victim was likely murdered around 2004 and his body was deposited at the site between 2004 and 2010, with analysis of forest floor roots providing this narrower timeframe. Isotope analysis of oxygen and strontium in the teeth indicated the man was likely raised in North Wales or a nearby region. Dental examination revealed unique characteristics suggesting UK-style dental work dated between 1980 and 2000, with specialists comparing this dental profile against records of over 500 missing persons cases with no matches identified. Toxicology screening returned negative results for drugs and alcohol. No fingerprints or perpetrator DNA were recovered from the site or remains. In September 2016, North Wales Police released facial reconstruction images on BBC's Crimewatch program showing how the man might have appeared at ages 50, 60, and 70, which prompted over 40 calls from viewers with potential leads. In October 2017, police distributed leaflets featuring the facial reconstruction to attendees of the Wales Rally GB. Serial killer Peter Moore claimed in March 2017 that he knew the victim's identity, suggesting the man was a mature student at Aberystwyth University who disappeared in 1996. Police identified a Roger Evans matching this description but ruled out the theory due to forensic evidence showing the victim's clothing was manufactured after Moore had been arrested. Dental records were compared against specialist dentistry databases in an attempt to identify the victim. Clothing found near the remains included a large size dark green Pringle jumper manufactured between 2000-2004 and Marks and Spencer men's briefs in dark red, waist size 36-39 inches, sold between 1999-2000, though investigators could not confirm these items belonged to the victim. A £20,000 Crimestoppers reward was offered for information leading to identification. As of 2025, the case is being reviewed by North Wales Police's Major Crime Review Team in collaboration with the National Crime Agency and specialists. The case remains unresolved with no confirmed identity.

Case Last Updated:

May 11, 2026