Police in Amsterdam proceed to attempt to determine a person discovered three years in the past whose id stays unknown, however has come to be referred to by authorities as “Fortunate.”
Web sleuths led police within the European metropolis and British Columbia to analyze whether or not Fortunate was John Russell Kenny, who went lacking in 1994. Police finally concluded the 2 males have been precisely that: two completely different folks.
However how did this investigation begin and the place does it stand now?
Could 10, 2023: A person collapses on a avenue in Amsterdam. He’s taken to hospital, the place it’s decided he both suffered a mind hemorrhage or a stroke. Police say he had no identification on him.
He’s later decided to have aphasia, which may have an effect on how folks communicate, learn, write and perceive what others say.
Could 2023-August 2026: The Amsterdam-West detective unit takes on the case and launches an investigation to find out the person’s id. There isn’t any felony factor to it, however Amsterdam police say members wished to assist.
The person is transported to a care centre in Amsterdam Southeast.
Police start exploring numerous choices, talking with folks within the metropolis, however hit a useless finish.
At an unannounced time, police say “Workforce Chilly Case” takes over the investigation as detectives in Amsterdam-West should transfer on to pursuing felony circumstances.
Two retired detectives, solely recognized as Ruud and Nel, volunteer with the crew taking over the case as a “social investigation.”
The 2 detectives attempt to map out his social circles, talking with folks in the neighborhood about whether or not they know him. This leads them to a Buddhist neighborhood on Middenweg within the metropolis. Members there inform Ruud and Nel that the person goes by the nickname Fortunate.
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Detectives have interacted with Fortunate periodically, however mentioned he presently solely speaks just a few phrases, largely “positively,” “nonsense,” and “optimistic,” which he makes use of to agree or disagree when requested questions.
However whereas they’ve requested him questions on himself, together with verbally, by speech computer systems, or pointing at letters on a map, they’re unsure how a lot he truly understands.
Via contacting different folks and making their approach via the town, investigators uncover Fortunate would often go to Soep en Zo, a restaurant in Waterlooplein or Waterloo Sq., for a drink. In talking with folks there they discover out he’s often known as “Chris the Canadian,” resulting from his accent.
Regardless of no consensus concerning his actual id, police say the detectives consider Fortunate doubtless doesn’t have Dutch roots.
A few of the individuals who spoke with police mentioned he could be Canadian or American resulting from his accent, which prompted among the nicknames he was given.
Aug. 17, 2026: Following the recommendations of a Canadian or American connection, Amsterdam police launch a video on social media asking for the general public’s assist in figuring out Fortunate.
The video notes along with Fortunate and Chris the Canadian, he’s additionally been identified by different names like Louis, Lee, John, Ponytail and Sonny.
“We need to not solely discover out who he’s, but in addition if there are any, for instance, family who nonetheless love him and he may get in touch with, as a result of he’s proper now in a nursing facility the place they’re taking, in fact, excellent care of him,” mentioned Marijke Stor, spokesperson for Amsterdam police, on Aug. 19. “However he spends plenty of his time alone and we predict it will be very good for him if he … may have the ability to discuss to somebody he is aware of.”
Aug. 19, 2026: Amsterdam police report receiving greater than 500 recommendations on Fortunate inside two days of releasing the video and say they’re pursuing potential leads.
Aug. 20, 2026: Vancouver police verify they’ve been trying into the chance that Fortunate is a lacking individual from the world. A person named John Russell Kenny went lacking on Could 22, 1994, on the age of 34 and police mentioned they have been working with Amsterdam police and Interpol to find out in the event that they have been the identical man.
It added Amsterdam police have been assessing 5 different individuals of curiosity.
Aug. 22, 2026: Vancouver and Amsterdam police verify Fortunate shouldn’t be Kenny. In response to Const. Megan Lui with Vancouver police, the fingerprints of the 2 males didn’t match.
Stor mentioned whereas Fortunate has been confirmed to not be the lacking Vancouver man, they’ve obtained a number of extra “particular names of individuals” and detectives at the moment are investigating at the very least 9 leads.
Lui confirmed Vancouver shouldn’t be concerned in investigations into any of these 9 leads.
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