Police obtained a DNA profile of the deceased man and uploaded it to public-facing databases in January. They got a lead within days. A DNA sample from a relative confirmed his identity.
Investigators couldn’t identify the man using conventional investigative tools
CBC News · Posted: Apr 14, 2026 4:17 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
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Police have referred to the man only as ‘Kevin.’ They say his loved ones long feared the worst. (Michael Wilson/CBC)
Toronto police say DNA technology has enabled them to confirm the identity of a man who was found dead in Lake Ontario more than 30 years ago.
Police say the man was found in the Inner Harbour area on July 27, 1992, and conventional investigative techniques were unable to identify him.
They say a DNA profile was obtained and uploaded to public-facing databases in January of this year, and investigators found a lead within days.
Police say they obtained a DNA sample from a potential close relative in Western Canada and the test confirmed the man’s identity last week.
The man, whom police only referred to as Kevin, hadn’t been reported missing but police say his loved ones had long feared the worst.
They say his death was not suspicious.
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