Appeal to identify man found in Staffordshire woodland in 1987

Volunteer investigators from cold-case charity Locate International, working alongside Staffordshire Police, are renewing an appeal for information to help identify a man whose body was discovered in woodland near Lichfield almost 40 years ago.

The man was found, without any identity documents, on the afternoon of Sunday 5 April 1987 in Coronation Wood, close to the A38/A5, a popular area for dog walkers. He is believed to have died approximately one week earlier. Despite extensive police investigations over the past four decades, his identity remains unknown. 

The discovery was made by two men who were out shooting in the area. The man had been found hanging from a tree.

At the time of his death, the man was believed to be in his mid-50s, approximately 5ft 8in (173cm) tall, with a slender to muscular build. He had no hair on top and greying/mousy hair at the sides and back, and a greying moustache along the edge of his upper lip. He also had only two lower teeth, giving him a distinctive appearance.

He was wearing:

• Millets Citizen anorak, grey, zip-front
• Dunn & Co green trilby hat
• Greenwoods lightweight grey zip-up jacket with blue lining
• C&A brown knitted jumper
• Marks & Spencer light blue checked shirt
• Dark/wine red tie with awning stripes and pin dots
• Light tan/brown slip-on shoes, extra-wide fitting
• Blue or grey trousers.

The man was carrying:

• Two keys on a metal, pear-shaped fob stamped with the number '6'
• Handkerchiefs
• A blue comb
• A disposable lighter
• Two copper coins
• Two Ladbrokes betting shop pens.

Did you live or work in the Lichfield area in the spring of 1987? Does this man look familiar?

Did you walk your dog in Coronation Wood at the time? 

Do you recognise this man if you visited Ladbrokes in the area?

Does the keyring that he had with him look familiar?

Are/were you a farmer or landowner in the area? Did he stay on your property at some point?

Do you recognise his tie?

Locate International and Staffordshire Police are urging anyone who recognises the description, clothing, or personal items – or who remembers someone who frequented local betting shops during the 1980s and later went missing – to come forward.

Even the smallest piece of information could help finally give this man his name.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Booker said: "This man has remained unidentified for nearly four decades and that is something we are determined to change. Someone somewhere knew him - as a friend, a colleague, neighbour or family member. 

"We are urging anyone who recognises the description, the clothing he was wearing, or the personal items found with him, no matter how insignificant it may seem to come forward. Even information that feels uncertain could help us finally establish who he was and provide answers after all these years. 

Mark Greenhalgh, Locate International’s CEO, said: “We believe everyone deserves to be reunited with their identity and to receive dignity in death. And even after almost 40 years, we are hopeful that we can give Coronation Wood Man back his name.

“Even the smallest piece of information can help – it can help confirm something we already knew or provide a crucial new direction for the investigation. So, we would encourage you to come forward if you know anything at all.”

Call Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting crime reference 147 of 12/05/2026

If you have any information on this case, please contact us via:
Email: [email protected]
Call: 0300 102 1011
Website: https://locate.international/appeals/coronation-wood-man