Throwing this out there, any chance Lyle is a Persian Jew?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/20/us-israel-iran-jews-idUSBREA2J24K20140320
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/20/us-israel-iran-jews-idUSBREA2J24K20140320
He could be almost anything, really. Probably quite mixed.
He has the look of a certain type from Canada or the northern US along the Canadian border: mixed French, Native, and Anglo-Saxon (often Scots and/or Irish).
But the french in Canada are well east of where Lyle was found. Beyond the obvious grouping of French Canadians in Quebec, there are pockets of french-speaking Canadians in Northern Ontario, near Windsor Ontario, and in New Brunswick. I don't believe there are many French Canadians in Western Canada.
As a result, I'm not sure how this relates to Lyle.
I thought we were speculating on his possible ethnic background. Eastern Canada's a lot closer than Persia/Iraq, though immigration is certainly a possibility.
Good point.
:blushing:
There was a wave of immigration from Iran when the Shah's government fell in, um, I think it was the 70's, so it's not impossible. And he does have the look.
1979. I checked. Coincidentally, this item was in the news today: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ples-revolution-against-iran/article19059694/
It appears that quite a few of the Iranian refugees fled to Canada. So this might be something worth looking into.
<rsbm>Agree that it's worth looking into, but let's keep it in perspective that most Iranian immigrants to Canada landed in Ontario, not western Canada.
That means that Lyle can be from anywhere in Canada, or, of course, mid-western or western U.S. I believe there is a large community of Iranians in South and SW Ontario and the Detroit area. I may be wrong in this. This is still a very long way from Washington state.
Lyle would not deny it. One night he goes so far as to hang a rope from the basement rafter of his store; he then sips Early Times and stares at the rope's shadow, ''vague as a smudge on the damp stone.''
This is a HUGE stretch (39 at time of Lyle's death), but I can't help but to notice the similarities in the nose, jaw line and eyebrows.
https://secure.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/missing-disparus/case-dossier.jsf?case=2013000130&id=3
I belong to several Native American groups, and this guy sure looks like one of our Native American brothers. The high cheek bones. The eyebrows that almost meet. The jaw structure. I'd be surprised if he didn't turn out to be NA. He just looks to much like us....
Did they ever try to check the serial numbers on the money? Even if they can't narrow it down to a particular city they could at least get a general area of where he might have been from. I used to work at a bank and they did record those numbers sometimes and I'm sure the Treasury notes where their money is distruibuted. It wouldn't be a slam dunk since people travel and money can move around but still i think he probably had the money with him from his origin because leaving an account open when you commit suicide and trying not to be identified would arouse suspicions.