York Regional police Identify Long-Unknown Human Remains in Markham

York Regional Police have made a significant breakthrough in a case that has puzzled investigators for over four decades. They recently announced the identification of human remains discovered in Markham back in 1980, believed to be linked to foul play. The remains belong to William Joseph Pennell, a 26-year-old man from Toronto who had escaped from prison shortly before his death.

The haunting tale begins with Pennell’s body being found on July 16, 1980, along the 11th Concession, after his escape from a Kingston institution. Initial forensic examinations indicated the remains belonged to a white male aged between 25 and 40. However, the severe decomposition of the body made it impossible to confirm his identity back then. Despite no cause of death being established, police suspected foul play.

The investigation took a turn in 2007 when cold case detectives exhumed the remains for DNA testing and facial reconstruction. They uploaded the DNA to the national database, but there were no matches. Fast forward to 2021, when police employed investigative genetic genealogy—a technique that merges DNA analysis with family tree exploration. This modern approach has been pivotal in solving several cold cases across Canada, including notorious unsolved murders.

Eventually, investigators located relatives of Pennell, leading to his identification in April 2023. Interestingly, before his escape, Pennell had faced charges for attempted murder and armed robbery. He had hinted at fearing for his life and had mentioned plans to flee to South America.

Now, authorities are reaching out to the public for help in piecing together the timeline between Pennell’s escape and his untimely death, hoping someone might have valuable information to share. If you have any leads, the York police cold case unit would love to hear from you.