Investigators are attempting to identify an unknown man who was found deceased in Buxton, Victoria on Christmas Day, 1971.
A group of children were celebrating the holidays with a swim in the Steavenson River when they happened upon a man’s body about 4.30pm.
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The discovery occurred about 60 metres downstream from the Maroondah Highway bridge.
The man was believed to be aged in his 40s or 50s, about 183cm tall with dark, greying hair and a large build.
He was dressed in blue jeans, a white shirt, a vest with square white buttons and desert-style boots.
Investigators found no evidence that gives insight into how the man’s body came to wind up in the river. There were no signs of a fall, no personal property left behind or hints of a potential fishing mishap.
In the following days, articles ran in the daily metropolitan and local press, but no one came forward to identify the deceased.
Investigators turned to interstate police, exploring the possibility that the man may have been a holiday visitor, but these efforts yielded no further clues.
Forensic dentists determined the man had undergone extensive molar repairs, but he could not be identified through dental records.
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The unidentified remains were checked in line with many missing persons cases at the time.
An autopsy revealed the man had heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver.
Due to decomposition of the body, it was impossible to detect physical injuries in the lead up to his death.
A coronial inquest held in 1972 determined the cause of death to be consistent with drowning. The man was buried in a metropolitan grave.
Sergeant Flyn Loughlin said, “We are confident that there is someone out there who knows something that can help determine who this man was,” he said.
There were several items found on the man that police believe may hold the key to his identity.
In addition to the belt around his waist, the man was wearing a large, thick belt around his stomach which appeared to have been used to support his stomach muscles.
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Along with a gold Unicorn watch, the man wore a black signet ring on his left ring finger.
The ring was inscribed “21.4.71 P.U.C.K”. Detectives are investigating the possibility that this inscription could have actually been the Cyrillic ‘Р.И.С.К’, meaning ‘risk’ in English.
Investigators have released an image believed to depict what the ring found on the man resembled.
The man was described as a “continental migrant” at the time.
There is a Ukrainian youth camp 4km upstream from where the man’s body was found. Enquiries have been made with the Ukrainian embassy and the camp.
Sergeant Flyn Loughlin said, “This may have occurred back in 1971 but this man was someone’s son, he had a family, and there were those who loved him.
“Even the slightest bit of information could be the missing link we need to finally be able to provide some closure in this matter.”
Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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