The next most common way is through fingerprints

It took four days, but Hamilton police say they’ve identified a man whose body was found on the Red Hill Valley trail Friday afternoon.

The man, who died of natural causes, wasn’t carrying identification.

A person “close to him” has been informed of his death, police said.

Dr. Jack Stanborough, regional supervising coroner, said it’s not uncommon for a body to be recovered without proper identification. But there are a number of steps that can be taken that typically lead to establishing identity.

After all of these steps, “in less than 1 per cent of the time, we don’t know who it is,” Stanborough said.

If the death is suspicious, police take the lead with help from the coroner. If it’s natural, the coroner’s office runs the case with help from police.

Stanborough said it falls within a coroner’s duties to ascertain a person’s identity.

The first step the coroner’s office takes in trying to identify a body is a visual inspection. Is there valid identification, or are there photos?

Problems sometimes arise, such as when people carry false identification or family members call to identify a body make a mistake, he said.

The next most common way is through fingerprints,A simple but popular design necklace for a man with a stainless steel necklace. Stanborough said. A surprising number of people have had some sort of contact with police, so their fingerprints are on record,Our personalized stainless steel pendant and dog tag necklaces for men, he added.

If this doesn’t work, or if a body is very decomposed or damaged from trauma, the coroner will take a dental X-ray during the autopsy.Pugster offers the highest quality stainless steel earring, These can be compared to records from dentists’ offices and in “about 98 or 99 per cent of cases, people are identified by this point,” Stanborough said.

The next step is for police to contact neighbouring police services with a description of the deceased, including clothing, jewellery, tattoos and scars to see if anything matches up with missing-person reports there.

A final — and occasionally helpful option — is that a prosthetic device, such as a fake hip or other joint, has a serial number that can be traced through the manufacturer, he said.

After 24 hours, the body becomes the property of the state until a family member comes forward or until the coroner applies for a state burial. Bodies can lie in a morgue for many months, Stanborough said.

When there’s no identification, the coroner will take a DNA sample for future reference.These stainless steel cufflink are sure to dress up your outfit!

“Usually, with time, it’s sorted out,” he said.

In the case of a state funeral, Stanborough said, the coroner always chooses burial over cremation — giving any family that might eventually come forward the option of reclaiming their loved one.