Full Breakdown
Toronto Police Identify Long-Unidentified Man Using Genetic Genealogy
11/20/2025, 3:03:55 PM
Identification of Alcides
Toronto police have successfully identified human remains discovered over 17 years ago as belonging to a man named Alcides, who was of Portuguese descent. The remains were found on March 29, 2008, near Bloor Street E. and Parliament Street, under a subway bridge. Although his death was deemed non-suspicious, conventional investigative methods failed to reveal his identity. In 2023, the case was selected for investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), a technique that utilizes genetic data to identify individuals through matches with biological relatives.
Project 31: A Humanitarian Initiative
The identification of Alcides marks the ninth success under Project 31, a Toronto police initiative launched in 2022 aimed at identifying 31 long-term unidentified deceased individuals for whom DNA material is available. Det-Const. Mike Kelly from the Toronto Police Service's homicide and missing persons unit explained that the project employs DNA-based techniques, including IGG, to provide closure to families of the deceased. The project was named for the 31 cases that have been prioritized for investigation.
The Process of Identification
To identify Alcides, police collected a DNA sample from the remains and uploaded it to public-facing databases such as Family Tree DNA and GEDmatch. This process allowed investigators to locate his closest relatives, leading them to conclude that he was from mainland Portugal. Police circulated a bulletin in online community groups, which resulted in two tips—one from Ontario and another from overseas—suggesting that the unidentified man could be Alcides.
After identifying a sibling of Alcides living abroad, police obtained a DNA sample for comparison. The results confirmed the identity of the deceased man as Alcides, providing closure to his family, who had not heard from him in years.
Official Statements & Responses
Det-Const. Mike Kelly emphasized the significance of identifying individuals through IGG, stating, "It doesn't matter what the circumstances of the person were in life... what happened to them be known to those who loved them." He noted that the identification process not only satisfies law enforcement but also restores dignity to the deceased and their families.
Criticism & Opposition
While the use of IGG has been praised for its effectiveness in solving cold cases, some critics raise concerns about privacy and the ethical implications of using genetic data from public databases. The Ontario Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has issued guidance on the police's use of IGG, highlighting the need for careful consideration of privacy rights.
What's Next
Toronto police continue to work on 25 active cases, with plans to apply IGG techniques to approximately 15 of them. The ongoing efforts under Project 31 aim to provide closure to more families of unidentified individuals.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is something that we would all want for ourselves with people that we love — that what happened to them be known to those who loved them, and moreover, for them to recover the dignity of their name.” — Det-Const. Mike Kelly, Toronto Police Service
