Full Name: John Doe

Alternative Name: Newcastle-under-Lyme John Doe, Crackley Man

Case Status: Unidentified

Record ID#: 0308

*The names “Jane Doe”  and “John Doe” are English names used when the person’s true name is not known. If used above, the name refers to a person of unknown identity.

Date of Birth*: Estimated between 1967 – 1978
Birthplace:
Age at the Time: Between 45 – 55
Age Group: 40s, 50s
Biological Sex: Male
Hair: Grey or Silver
Eyes:
Skin Complexion:
Shoe Size: UK Men's Size 9
Ethnicity: Caucasian or White
Nationality:
Languages Spoken:

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Physical Build: Slim or Thin

Height:

Weight

Distinguishing Marks:

• Beard, Tattoo

Medical Condition:
Physical Abnormality:
Dental Condition:
Scars & Other Marks:
Piercings:
Tattoos: Large Dragon on the back of his left shoulder.

Other Descriptors: The deceased was a white European male, estimated to be aged between 45 and 55 years old. He had grey hair and stubble, stood between 5 ft 8 in and 6 ft 0 in (175–183 cm) tall, and had a slim build (estimated weight around 10.5 stone (~147 lbs or 66.7 kg) , though decomposition may have affected this)

Clothing

He was fully clothed at the time of discovery, wearing:

• White Slim Fit Shirt, Brand “George”
• Dark Blue Denim Jeans, Brand “Pierre Cardin”
• Black Leather Belt
• Black Kicker-Style Shoes, Size 9, Brand “Urban Territory”

Nearby, police found a yellow jacket with blue or grey coloring in the interior and a dark blue “Tog 24” jacket, believed to belong to him. Despite freezing winter temperatures, he was not wearing the jackets at the time of death.

Possessions:

Date of the Disappearance*:

Description: Unknown

Multiple Victims?: No

Rumored or Actual Sightings:

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Date the Body was Recovered: February 6, 2023

Description: On Monday, 6 February 2023, two members of the public discovered the body of an unidentified man while carrying out a health and safety inspection at a unit on Rosevale Road in the Crackley area of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. The body was found in a state of advanced decomposition, hidden in undergrowth behind the rear fire exit of an industrial unit at Parkhouse Industrial Estate that had stood empty for approximately three months. The location lay between the building and a wooded area

Staffordshire Police were called to reports of the discovery and attended the scene. A top-to-toe search of the body and the immediate area found no identification documents, jewellery, camping equipment, drink cans or drug paraphernalia. The death was not treated as suspicious.

A post-mortem examination and toxicology report were carried out. The coroner, Fiona Gingell, ruled that the man died from hypothermia. The findings were consistent with “paradoxical undressing” (removing clothing despite cold) and “hide and die” syndrome often seen in hypothermia cases. There were no external or internal injuries, and the autopsy excluded heart attack, aneurysm or organ failure. Small, non-fatal levels of cocaine and alcohol were present in his system but were deemed unlikely to have impaired his judgement. Stomach haemorrhaging further supported the hypothermia conclusion.

Police believe he may have been sleeping rough in the area, though no recent sightings of homeless individuals were reported by nearby businesses in the lead-up to his death, and the industrial estate was not a location typically used by dog walkers or the general public

As of early 2025, the man remains unidentified. Staffordshire Police have exhausted all current lines of enquiry and investigations are on hold pending new information. Anyone with details is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Time of Death:

Cause of Death: Suspected Natural Causes (possibly hypothermia)

Recovered Remains (if partial):

Suspected Homicide?: No

Multiple Victims?: No

DNA Tested (No Match):

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Description:

License Plate:

Description: