A BREAKTHROUGH to unmask Saddleworth moors mystery man ‘Neil Dovestones’ could hinge on the findings of a Manchester-based bone specialist.
Detectives hope Professor David Mangham of Manchester Royal Infirmary can help pinpoint the hospital in Pakistan where the pensioner underwent hip surgery between 2001 and 2015.
Post-mortems revealed a 10cms surgical titanium plate attached to the femur of the unidentified dead man found on a track leading to Chew Reservoir in December last year.
Dr Mangham has worked for nearly two months to categorise the injury more precisely, trying to age the scar left by the operation and provide any clue to avoid a mass search of Pakistani hospitals thought to number nearly 1,000.
Until his findings come through – and it could be another week before they are received – police have stepped up their search through further media appeals.
A photofit of Neil was released recently and BBC Radio Four are to feature the case daily, starting on June 6 and concluding with an hour long special on June 10. The programmes will be broadcast on the World Service and in Urdu.
An empty container found on the dead man and labelled thyroxine sodium, contained instructions in English and Urdu.
“If we find out where he had his operation we will find out who he is and who his next of kin are,” said Detective Sergeant John Coleman. “The bone specialist is trying to narrow things down for us.
“However, before we get those results I don’t want to go to the hospitals. We need to get some manageable figures before we do.
“We have had loads of people phoning up suggesting names but all have proven to be negative and not the definitive line of enquiry we have been looking for.”
The Independent understands Professor Stephen Evans, initially suggested as the victim, plans an emotional return to Saddleworth this summer. Professor Evans was one of two child survivors from a 1949 plane crash at Wimberry Stones.
It was speculated at the start of the investigations he might have re-visited the area and perished on the moors but subsequently confirmed alive and well, he now wants to re-visit the area for the first time in 67 years.
Good one – some new info to chew on here. For various reasons, my money is currently on a hospital in the west of Pakistan – possibly somewhere close to the Afghan border, but we shall see what Prof Mangham reveals. How well does the portrait tally with the recollections of those who saw him at the Clarence?
Any word from Professor Mangham/GMP re his findings yet?