Remains identified in 44-year-old cold case, York Region police appeal for public’s help
York Regional Police have made a significant breakthrough in a cold case dating back over four decades, with the identification of human remains found in Markham in 1980. The investigation into the suspected foul play surrounding the discovery has been ongoing for years, and authorities are now seeking the public’s assistance in shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the death of William Joseph Pennell, 26, from Toronto.
Pennell’s remains were located on the side of the 11th Concession, between 14th and Steeles avenues, in July 1980, approximately a month after he had escaped from a Kingston prison where he was serving a sentence for a robbery conviction. Initial forensic analysis suggested that the remains belonged to a white male aged between 25 and 40 years old. However, due to the advanced state of decomposition, a positive identification could not be made at the time. Despite efforts to determine the cause of death, investigators suspected foul play from the outset.
In 2007, cold case investigators made the decision to exhume the remains in order to conduct a facial reconstruction and extract DNA. This DNA profile was uploaded to the national DNA database, but unfortunately, no immediate matches were found. It was not until 2021 that authorities turned to investigative genetic genealogy, a cutting-edge technique that combines DNA analysis with the study of family trees, to make a breakthrough in the case. This method has been instrumental in solving numerous cold cases across Canada in recent years.
After locating relatives of the deceased individual, the remains were positively identified as William Joseph Pennell in April 2023. Pennell had a troubled past, having been arrested and charged with attempted murder and armed robbery in June 1979. Despite being convicted of robbery in April 1980, he managed to escape from prison two months later, with his ultimate fate remaining a mystery until now. According to reports, Pennell had expressed his intention to flee to South America in what would be his final communication before his death.
Investigators are now seeking to piece together a timeline of events between Pennell’s escape from prison and his death, and are appealing to anyone who may have information to come forward. The York police cold case unit is actively pursuing leads and hoping that public assistance will help bring closure to this long-standing mystery. If you have any information that could aid in the investigation, please reach out to the authorities.
The identification of William Joseph Pennell’s remains marks a significant development in a decades-old case, and serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and the relentless pursuit of justice. May this breakthrough bring some measure of solace to those affected by this tragedy, and may it serve as a beacon of hope for other cold cases awaiting resolution.
