Cash reward in mysterious cold case of man whose skull was found by campers

Antonia MatthewsBBC Wales
News imageCrimestoppers/BBC A mock up facial image in black and white of a man wearing a grey t shirt. Next to it is an image of the forest where the man's remains were found in 2015 showing tall trees and dense shrubsCrimestoppers/BBC
Police released a mock-up facial image of what the man may have looked in his 50s (left), after his remains were discovered in Clocaenog Forest (right) in November 2015

A reward of up to £20,000 has been offered for information about the suspected murder of a man whose remains were found dumped in a remote forest more than a decade ago.

Campers found part of the man's skull in Clocaenog Forest, Conwy county, in November 2015, leading to the discovery of his skeleton by police.

But despite extensive tests and appeals, the man has never been identified.

The charity Crimestoppers is offering the reward, which is available for three months, for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for man's death.

The man's body was discovered at Pentrellyncymer, near Cerrigydrudion, by two brothers camping in the forest ahead of the Wales Rally GB, an international motor competition.

News imageSmall stream in forest with overhanging branches covered in moss and fallen tree trunk in the water
Tests showed the man's body had been in the forest for several years - possibly since as far back as 2004

As part of renewed efforts to solve this case, police have released mock-up facial images showing how the man may have looked aged in his 50s, 60s and 70s.

Experts believe the man was born before 1950 and was likely of Caucasian heritage.

He is thought to have been between 5ft 8in (172cm) and 5ft 10.5in (177cm) tall, with a well-built frame and a history of back problems, Crimestoppers said.

It's believed that he died sometime between 2004 and 2011.

He had several missing teeth before his death, and significant injuries have led detectives to treat this as a case of murder, Crimestoppers added.

News imageCrimestoppers A composite image of a man, they are the mock-up facial images which show how police believe the man could have looked in his 60s (left) and 70s (right). Both images are black and white.Crimestoppers
The mock-up facial images also show how police believe the man could have looked in his 60s (left) and 70s (right)

In 2016, police officers appealed for help from dentists after the investigation revealed the man had undergone two identifiable dental procedures.

They said he had crown work done when the procedure was commonly performed in the UK between 1980 and 2000.

"Someone knows who was responsible for this man's death," said Hayley Fry, national manager for Wales at Crimestoppers.

"His family and friends, wherever they are, deserve answers and justice."

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