York police identify remains in 44-year-old cold case and seek public assistance

York Regional Police have identified human remains found in Markham in 1980 as belonging to William Joseph Pennell, who was 26 at the time of his death. The identification comes after decades of investigation and advanced DNA techniques. Pennell's body was discovered a month after he escaped from prison, where he was serving time for robbery. Initial forensic tests were inconclusive, but recent genetic genealogy efforts led to the identification in April 2023. Police are now seeking information from the public to help piece together Pennell's activities between his escape and death. They hope to find friends or associates who can provide more details about the case.