Man known for 23 years as Conception Bay John Doe identified as a Cuban in Canada on a tourist visa
CBC
WARNING: This story contains graphic details some readers may find disturbing.
The man who became known as Conception Bay John Doe after his severed head was found buried in a dump site 23 years ago has been identified by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary as a Cuban who came to Canada on a tourist visa, The Fifth Estate has learned.
Temistocle Casas was identified through genetic genealogy that led investigators to his first cousin, police said.
RNC Const. Greg Davis said he will never forget the moment he learned Casas's name and saw his photo for the first time.
"Surreal I guess would be the word to use. I couldn't believe it had happened," Davis said. "I always knew it was possible but I didn't know if we were going to get there … my head was spinning, it was a crazy moment."
Two men looking for tree saplings discovered Casas's remains in a Billy Boot shopping bag in a dump site in Conception Bay, near St. John's, in 2001.
He had been known as Conception Bay John Doe since then.
After the remains were discovered, police said the victim probably lived in Quebec or Ontario or possibly the northeastern United States. Through isotope analysis and carbon dates, it was established that he was probably born in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
However, the RNC has now told The Fifth Estate they don't believe Casas ever lived in the U.S. They said he came to Montreal on a tourist visa in 1992.
It is not known how Casas ended up in Newfoundland.
"Through our investigation, we believe Mr. Casas was killed in 1997 or 1998," said Davis. "We're not going to disclose any more details at this time since it is an active homicide investigation."
The Fifth Estate was not able to find any records indicating Casas became a Canadian citizen.
Three years ago, the RNC began using genetic genealogy — when DNA is used to do family tree research — to try to identify the man. But any matches made with relatives had been too distant to make an identification, according to the RNC.
Then, in February 2024, a man from the U.S. uploaded his DNA. He turned out to be Casas's first cousin.
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