Winnipeg police have been able to notify next-of-kin about the death of a man found unresponsive on a city street in July.
The man was identified after police asked for the public’s help and issued a composite sketch and description of the unknown man on Friday.
On Sunday, police said his family has been notified and thanked the public. Additional details about the man were not released in order to respect the family’s privacy, police said.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
An unknown man was identified after police asked for the public’s help and issued a composite sketch and description of the man, who was found dead on a city street in July.
The man died in hospital after being found unresponsive July 28 at the corner of Main Street and James Avenue in Winnipeg, and investigators’ previous efforts to identify him were unsuccessful.
“In the end, it was not a community member that came forward,” police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said of how the man’s identity was confirmed. “It was just furthering investigational leads and utilizing investigational tools that were already in play.”
She said she was unable to provide more specific details.
McKinnon said the man’s identity was confirmed Saturday.
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Police have made similar appeals about once a year in the past five years, she said.
“Typically, when we’ve done pleas to the public for assistance on these types of investigations involving an identified deceased individual they are very sensitive because the fact remains a given individual, their family may not know the circumstances in which their loved one is living and existing in,” McKinnon said.
“They don’t have the capability to always make a missing persons report. That can be difficult, and then it’s difficult for the family when they learn of the details.
“However, it does bring closure because the investigation can now be closed but at the same time the family knows of their loved one’s situation.”
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