Investigative Ideas - Episode 6 - Mile End Man

locate-admin

On the morning of Thursday, May 8, 1975, tragedy struck at Mile End station in east London.

A man in his 40s or 50s, approximately 6 feet tall, with receding black hair, lost his life to a train. He was a clean-shaven white European, possibly wearing false upper teeth.

This man carried valuable possessions and dressed with distinction: sporting blue trousers, a light blue shirt, and a navy blue blazer adorned with distinct yellow buttons from Burton. Underneath, he had a white vest, Y-front underpants, long grey socks, and smart black leather lace-up shoes in size 7 from Moss Bros.

Read the full case details here: https://locate.international/appeals/mile-end-man

To discuss the case directly with our investigators, you can post on this discussion thread, or even start your own to cover a specific topic.

Joanne2603

This one is very heartbreaking. He must have lived somewhere. His landlord or a neighbour must have wondered where he went. Where did his belongings go? Why didn't work notice he was gone? So many questions, all not answerable. This poor soul. I honestly believe there should be a regular tv show on prime time tv, that is used to display these cases over and over. More coverage might just get these solved.

JoDaviesWarner

Hi @Joanne2603, yes you're absolutely right - we in the team have always felt that the well-dressed appearance of the man suggests someone who would have been known in his community: working and living somewhere, possibly with a family. It therefore seems all the more shocking that his identity has remained a mystery. The time that has elapsed since his death makes the case more challenging, of course, but we still firmly believe that we can reunite him with his name.

Rllowe

working in the MH services it's not that unusual for people to change their appearance before making an attempt to end their life. sometimes to try and slow down any "help". An example someone who always used to be blonde and wear only trackies, dyed her their hair black and purchased formal wear as a disguise, so if the crisis team or police were called it would be harder to identify and decrease the chance of an intervention.

JoDaviesWarner

Rllowe That's fascinating and not something we have considered before - thank you for sharing.

Rllowe

For example i always wear dresses. Always. Always.

Yet my last attempt at a bridge. I bought jeans especially, because i did not want people to see my underwear.

I am fully recovered now and looking back thats a odd thing to worry about.

JoDaviesWarner

I'm pleased to hear you're fully recovered now, and thank you for sharing your experience and insight on the forum.