Decades-Old Cold Case: Allegations Surrounding William Pennell’s Mysterious death

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York Regional Police investigators are appealing to friends and associates to come forward as they work to solve the decades-old case

Imagine living with a mystery for over four decades. That’s what investigators are facing as they delve into the cold case of William Joseph Pennell, whose human remains were discovered in Markham in 1980. Identified recently by the York Regional Police cold case unit, Pennell was just 26 years old at the time of his death and had escaped from a Kingston prison two months prior.

On July 16, 1980, a resident stumbled upon skeletal remains on a rural road. Despite initial forensic work, the identity of the remains eluded authorities for years. It wasn’t until 2023, leveraging advanced techniques like investigative genetic genealogy, that Pennell was finally named. Prior to his escape, he was serving time for serious offenses, including armed robbery and attempted murder.

What makes this case even more intriguing is the lack of clarity surrounding his escape and subsequent death. Pennell reportedly told a friend he planned to flee to South America, but his life was cut short—though the cause remains undetermined, foul play is suspected. As investigators continue building a timeline, they’re reaching out to the public for help. They’re specifically looking for friends or acquaintances who might shed light on his final days.

If you have any information, you’re urged to contact York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6000 or reach out to Crime Stoppers. More about this case will be discussed in the upcoming podcast series, Tracking a Killer: The Cold Case Files, airing on November 15.