Police are renewing their appeal for help to identify the body of a man – also known as 'Echo Point man' – found 22 years ago in the Blue Mountains, after sourcing fresh evidence via DNA technology.
About 11.30am on Friday 4 June 2004, emergency services were called to Echo Point, Katoomba, after a report of a body found in bushland.
Officers attached to Blue Mountains Police Area Command attended and located the body of a man.
Despite extensive inquiries over the past two decades, police have been unable to identify the man; however, fresh information has now been received via advanced DNA analysis.
Based on the information received, detectives have now renewed their appeal for information and have released an updated description of the man.
The man is believed to be Caucasian, more than 60 years old, about 178cm tall, of medium build, with light grey hair and frontal baldness. Detectives believe the man was also suffering from significant eyesight problems at the time.
When the man was found, he was wearing a blue button up shirt, a red cardigan, a cream jacket, blue corduroy pants, a black belt, and brown work boots.
Based on recent DNA analysis, detectives have been advised the man's ancestry is likely Latvian.
Detectives are now hoping this latest information could lead them to identify the man.
Blue Mountains Police Area Command Commander, Superintendent John Nelson, said they hope this additional information could provide leads for his team.
"Despite extensive inquiries over many years, this man's identity remains unknown," Superintendent Nelson said.
"Since receiving this latest information, we have focused our inquiries in this area but have been unable to identify the man, and we are now appealing to anyone with information about a man missing since early 2000s, possibly with Latvian or Middle European heritage, to contact police.
"Police understand this may be a difficult subject, but identifying this man is about dignity, respect, and providing answers to family who may still be searching."
Anyone who may have any information is urged to contact investigators attached to Blue Mountains Police Area Command or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
