York Regional police Identify Human Remains in Alleged Cold Case of Foul Play

York Regional Police recently announced a significant breakthrough in a cold case that has perplexed authorities for over four decades. The remains, initially discovered on July 16, 1980, in Markham, have been identified as belonging to William Joseph Pennell, a 26-year-old man from Toronto. His body was found on the side of the 11th Concession, just a month after he escaped from a Kingston prison where he was serving time for robbery.

Initial forensic tests back in 1980 suggested that the remains belonged to a white male aged between 25 and 40. However, the advanced decomposition made it impossible to identify him at that time. Although a cause of death was never established, investigators suspected foul play. In 2007, efforts to uncover the truth led to the exhumation of the remains for DNA extraction and facial reconstruction. Sadly, they hit a dead end with no immediate matches.

Fast forward to 2021, police utilized investigative genetic genealogy, a modern technique combining DNA analysis with family tree exploration. This innovative approach has proven successful in solving many cold cases across Canada. Finally, in April 2023, the remains were confirmed to be Pennell’s.

Interestingly, Pennell had a tumultuous past, having been charged with attempted murder and armed robbery in June 1979. He mentioned the involvement of at least two others in his alleged crimes but remained tight-lipped about specifics, fearing for his safety. Despite being convicted of robbery in April 1980, he escaped prison two months later, indicating a desire to flee to South America.

As investigators work to gather more information and piece together the timeline between Pennell’s escape and death, they’re reaching out to the public for assistance. If you have any information that could help solve this decades-old mystery, please contact the York police cold case unit.