David Lytton
"Neil Dovestone" is the placeholder name commonly used for an unidentified man found dead on 12 December 2015, at Saddleworth Moor, in the South Pennines of Northern England.[1][2] The name was reportedly devised by mortuary attendants at Royal Oldham Hospital,[3] in reference to the location of the body, near Dovestone Reservoir, on an asphalt track in the Chew Valley.
The man died from a lethal dose of strychnine, and is believed by police to have committed suicide.[4] "Neil Dovestone" was between 65 and 75 years old and almost 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, with a thin build; he was balding with grey hair and brown eyes.
He apparently walked to the moor on the afternoon of 11 December, from Greenfield, where he made enquiries at a pub about walking to Wimberry Rocks (or Wimberry Stones; known colloquially as the "Indian's Head") – a rock feature overlooking the reservoir. Earlier in the day, he had caught a train to Manchester Piccadilly from Euston Station, in London. His first known movements were at 9.04 a.m. on 11 December, when he travelled by tube train from Ealing Broadway Station to Euston. He was last seen alive shortly after sunset (3.59 p.m.), by two RSPB staff, near the site at which his body was found the following day.[4]
There is evidence that "Neil Dovestone" had been in Pakistan, not long before his death:
- a 10-centimetre (3.9 in) titanium surgical plate, legally available only in Pakistan, had been attached to his left femur, near the hip.
- the container used to carry the strychnine, which had originally been used for a common medication (thyroxine), carried a printed label with text in both English and Urdu.[4]
The man did not appear to be known to the authorities in Pakistan, however, and his fingerprints did not match any on record there, in the UK or other countries.
No evidence linking "Neil Dovestone" to known missing persons cases has been found.[1]
Footnotes
- ^ a b Al-Othman, Hannah (25 August 2016). "Inquest into death of 'mystery man' found dead at beauty spot is put on hold after police fail to make progress". Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ Baxter, Trevor (6 September 2016). "Mystery case of 'man on the moors'". Saddleworth Independent. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ Abbi, Beth (3 February 2016). "Dovestone reservoir death riddle man is not grandad Hugh Toner who vanished 20 years ago". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Manel, Jon. "Body on the Moor". BBC News. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
