Case Number: 24-000213

Blank Case Number: 455

In the early hours of Monday the 14th of May 1990, an unknown male with an Irish accent phoned thames valley police to report a deceased male in a derelict house on the corner of Eldon Street and Kings road, in Reading, Berkshire.

When police arrived the house was in a dilapidated state and the fireservice and the local undertaker was brought in to help recover the body. At first police were suspicious because they could not rule out foul play but a number of facts leave police to believe the man may have died in his sleep while using the derelict house as shelter. Locals described the house as being frequented by “down and outs” but could not pinpoint who the man could be.

The unidentified male was found face down on his stomach with his hands underneath his head like he was sleeping. His calfs were exposed although the unidenified man wore numerous pairs of trousers including a navy blue pair similar to what the RAF use according to the coroner.

The body was in a bad state of decomposition, maggots were present on the corpse and the body had began to mummify.

After the autopsy, police believed the man to be a white european male, of large build, with greying hair, around 40 – 50 years old and stood at 5ft 10ins tall. He wore mulitple layers of trousers, one pair being navy in colour and a beige colour shirt. It is noted no shoes were found with the unidentified male but he did have some money on him, in a wallet wrapped in newspaper which contained £21.38p.

In historic reports found on the British Newspaper archive, the police gave a varying timeframe of when the man may have died. It is believed he mau have been there for around 1 – 3 years.

If you have any information on who this unidentified male is, please contact the missing persons unit here

Read on to see some historic reports in this case.

Cicumstances

In the early hours of May 14th 1990, following an anonymous call to Police, officers attended a derelict house on the corner of Eldon Street and Kings Road in Reading where they found the mummified body of a male on the top floor of the house. The body appeared to have been there for a couple of years. Near to the body were found two newspapers – one from October 1987 and the other from November 1987. In a jacket found on the floor next to the body there was a wallet wrapped in newspaper and this was found to contain £21.38.

Facts

• 14 May 1990
• Body
• Male
• White european
• Large
• around 40 – 50  years old
• 178 (5 ft 10 ins)
• Grey hair

Clothing

• Multiple pairs of trousers
• Navy coloured trousers (RAF STYLE)
• Beige coloured top

Possessions

• The male was wearing navy coloured trousers and a patterned beige coloured shirt. Two newspapers were found near to the body – one dated October 1987 and the other November 1987. A wallet wrapped in newspaper containing £21.38.
  

Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette – Tuesday 15 May 1990

Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Liverpool Echo – Tuesday 15 May 1990

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Aberdeen Evening Express – Tuesday 15 May 1990

Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd (Newspapers). Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle – Tuesday 15 May 1990

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Reading Evening Post – Wednesday 16 May 1990

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Reading Evening Post – Friday 29 June 1990

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Wolverhampton Express and Star – Friday 29 June 1990

Image © National World Publishing Ltd

Reading Evening Post – Thursday 19 July 1990

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

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This article was written by Kelly Haywood