Police Seeking Tips in 1973 Norwalk Cold Case

Forty-two years have passed since an unidentified man was found dead, floating in Charles Creek in Norwalk, near a yacht club, and police are reaching out to the public for tips to solve the cold case.

A boater found the man’s body at 6:50 a.m. on July 27, 1973. Police said he was floating face down next to the docks of the Rex Yacht Club on Beach Road -- Charles Creek -- across from what was then known as the “new” Marvin School.

The man was Caucasian, but his body had been in the water for between four days and a week and facial identification was impossible, according to police.

Not only were police unable to identify him through facial features, but they were also unable to get full fingerprints and DNA was not an option.

The dental record was placed in the file, police said, but that has not led to any identifying information.

In July 2011, Dr. Adam Freeman, a forensic odontologist from Westport, got involved in the investigation, but there was no match in the system for the dental records.

In September 2011, police asked the FBI Latent Print Unit in Quantico, Virginia to run the fingerprints, but there was no match.

In September 2014, police again reached out for help after the FBI later upgraded its system and added 22 million files, but there was no match that time either.

Police have no idea if the man was from Norwalk or a surrounding town and they are still trying to identify him.

They also said the man’s description did not match any missing persons case at the time.

He was believed to be between 30 and 35 years old. He was 5-feet-8 to 5-feet-11 and weighed around 175 pounds.

His hair was reddish brown and collar length, he had a mustache and was wearing gray Levi’s pant; a medium cranberry V-neck pullover shirt with buttons and size 30 Fruit of the Loom underwear.

Police said they found a pair of suede shoes with brown and yellow laces two days later.

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Anybody with information is asked to call (203) 854-3028 or email Lt. Art Weisgerber at aweisgerber@norwalkct.org.

You can send an anonymous Internet tips through the Norwalk police website or text “NPD” and the message to CRIMES (274637).