CANADA Canada - Coquitlam, BC, UnkRace/Sex 30-40, skeletal remains in wooded area behind hospital, May'70

[breachtones]

I've never done this before, and I'm unsure and a little nervous on what I should do.

I'm looking into a case near my old childhood home with just... nothing on it. But the location itself is somewhere I quite literally used to go to a lot, so to know there was a doe there is kinda scary and intriguing.
I'm wondering if LE tends to give out additional information not released to the public or case files often. I was thinking if it would be possible for someone like me, just a member of the public, to receive a copy of a case file. I've seen the user whorton obtain one in this other thread. Not exactly sure how, but there's a lotta valuable info in there which isn't online elsewhere.
Keeping in mind the case I want to look into is 50+ years old at this point, perhaps there's something else they can now release with the amount of time that's passed.

There isn't even an agency contact for the case, I'm not sure how well that bodes to a contact regarding it.
TLDR: Could I, a random citizen, obtain case files from a 50+ year old Doe cold case?

 

[MadMcGoo]

I've never done this before, and I'm unsure and a little nervous on what I should do.

I'm looking into a case near my old childhood home with just... nothing on it. But the location itself is somewhere I quite literally used to go to a lot, so to know there was a doe there is kinda scary and intriguing.
I'm wondering if LE tends to give out additional information not released to the public or case files often. I was thinking if it would be possible for someone like me, just a member of the public, to receive a copy of a case file. I've seen the user whorton obtain one in this other thread. Not exactly sure how, but there's a lotta valuable info in there which isn't online elsewhere.
Keeping in mind the case I want to look into is 50+ years old at this point, perhaps there's something else they can now release with the amount of time that's passed.

There isn't even an agency contact for the case, I'm not sure how well that bodes to a contact regarding it.
TLDR: Could I, a random citizen, obtain case files from a 50+ year old Doe cold case?

Hey! Welcome to Websleuths!!

I think the simple answer to your question is YES. Depending on what the agency has available, paired with how old the case is, I feel the chances are good they’d be willing to share.

If you’re able to share links to the case you mention, I’m sure others (including myself) would be happy to help!

 

[Laughing]

The file might be released, there may be a hefty charge for copies so ask!

If you're willing to tell us -- who what where when -- we'll see what we can find.

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[breachtones]

Appears they don't release files... welp. At least not without going through some FOI Act submission things which frankly.. I'm a bit hesitant to do that for whatever reason.
I'll link the case here anyway, on the off-chance someone else can find out more about it. I haven't really looked too hard to be honest.
My personal theory about it is that it was a male, due to the large, heavy-set stature, who wandered off the grounds of the nearby mental hospital and died in the woods.

 

[Laughing]

Alerting my post to ask if the thread title can be changed for male remains found May 3, 1970 near Riverview Hospital, Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.

@GuyfromCanada is the only Canadian poster I can hail!

Thanks for the link to Doe Network, that gives us a start.

Are there articles about the discovery of these remains?

BC Historical Newspapers - UBC Library Open Collections

LibGuides: Historical Canadian Newspapers Online: British Columbia

Also might have newspaper resources here:

British Columbia Historical Federation | We are storykeepers

or here:

BCGS Home — BCGS

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[breachtones]

Are there articles about the discovery of these remains?

Dunno about other places, but I could try and look at my library too, probably on the weekend.

 

[Laughing]

Dunno about other places, but I could try and look at my library too, probably on the weekend.

Keep in mind that newspapers available today may have published under different names in the '70's. IIRC, The Kansas City Star (morning paper) and The Kansas City Times (afternoon paper) merged in 1991.

Let us know what you find!

 

[CCJD]

Alerting my post to ask if the thread title can be changed for male remains found May 3, 1970 near Riverview Hospital, Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.

RSB&BM

Maybe leave gender/sex as unknown.

There's a disclaimer of sorts on his/her DN page:
Please note: all cases in which the gender of the victim is unknown are assigned and filed as male.

 

[YaYa_521]

3254UMBC - Unidentified Male

Date of Discovery: May 3, 1970
Location of Discovery: Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Estimated Date of Death: 4-6 years prior
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 30-40 years old
Race: Unknown
Sex: Unknown
Height: 183 cm (6'0")
Weight: Unknown, but of heavy build
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers
Dentals: Unknown. Some dental restorations.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Unknown.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery
The decedent was found in a wooded area behind Riverview Hospital which is located on the east side of Hickey Street, south of Austin Avenue at the 2500 block.

Please note: all cases in which the gender of the victim is unknown are assigned and filed as male.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Coquitlam RCMP
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 604-945-1550
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 1970-500-76

Former Hot Case Number: 2095

Information Source(s)
British Columbia Unidentified Human Remains Interactive Viewer
British Columbia Coroner's Service

Admin Notes
Added: 8/22/10; Last Updated: 5/30/19

3254UMBC

 

[Ark]

If you want to get further information about the case, the only way is to go through FOI.

You can make the request through here i believe: Making a request under the Access to Information Act | Royal Canadian Mounted Police as its a Coquitlam RCMP case.

One issue i see straight away though, which may stump your investigation before its even started is the unknown sex and unknown race. This means that there are probably no remains to test for DNA purposes, meaning any pursuit of identification might be very tough and potentially not even possible.

 

[Laughing]

Surely the local newspaper ran articles, surely locals had theories....

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[Andreee]

Appears they don't release files... welp. At least not without going through some FOI Act submission things which frankly.. I'm a bit hesitant to do that for whatever reason.
I'll link the case here anyway, on the off-chance someone else can find out more about it. I haven't really looked too hard to be honest.
My personal theory about it is that it was a male, due to the large, heavy-set stature, who wandered off the grounds of the nearby mental hospital and died in the woods.

As a fellow BCer and Canadian, I'm not surprised there is quite the process in getting any kind of files from LE. Our court and judicial rules system is basically the same as the UK, since we are of course part of the Commonwealth. The American system is somewhat different, so their rules don't apply here. Interesting case. And of course, with the closure of Riverview, your theory could well be correct.

 

[Laughing]

When did Riverview close? Are their articles including interviews with employees? If this was a patient, someone knew a patient was missing, and likely several someones.

 

[breachtones]

When did Riverview close? Are their articles including interviews with employees? If this was a patient, someone knew a patient was missing, and likely several someones.

It closed in July 2012, no idea about interviews though. The site is huge and a bus route has passed straight through it since at least the 1980s. Most buildings are still standing, abandoned, though they've torn down a few small things like the Valleyview Cottage for being unsafe and filled with asbestos.

I also wanna say that the location he was found isn't exactly like behind Riverview. It's just close by. It takes a short while to walk from Riverview to the site but I imagine it would be quicker to walk in the 1960s because that area was significantly more wooded and there were less houses you'd have to make a detour around back then. I doubt most of the houses that sit above Riverview near Alouette Dr etc. would be there back then, you could just walk straight through instead of having to go around.

 

[breachtones]

It was nighttime so these pics are terrible, but I passed by the location the UID was found and decided to take a couple.
I have no idea how it was like in 1970, probably not like this at all. But right now the location is a crevice. There's a prominent trail leading into just a dead end with trees surrounding it.

 

[breachtones]

Canada's Missing | Case details

www.services.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

I suppose it could be Zolton Zambory, a 30 year old German immigrant who went missing in January 1965 from Vancouver. He stood 6'0 tall. Could you really consider 165 pounds a "heavier stature" though?