Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Could a mystery man who collapsed on the street in Amsterdam three years ago actually be a Canadian who has been missing for more than three decades?
Police on both sides of the Atlantic are investigating the possibility.
The man, who Amsterdam police say went by the nickname “Lucky,” collapsed on May 10, 2023, after what doctors believe was a stroke or a brain hemorrhage.
He was left with a condition called aphasia, a language disorder that impairs a person’s ability to speak, read, write and understand.
Amsterdam police say he had no ID or passport, used a variety of nicknames, and left essentially no official footprint or digital trail.
“We know where he lived, for example,” said Amsterdam police spokesperson Marijke Stor.
“But we also found out that he paid the rent in cash. He paid almost everything in cash. We didn’t find a, like, bank account with his name.”
With leads drying up, the investigation was turned over to a cold case unit, which recently published a video appeal that resulted in a flood of tips — several of which pointed to a Canadian connection.
WATCH | A life lived, but no name: who recognizes this man?:
John Russell Kenny
Lucky, it turns out, bears a striking resemblance to John Russell Kenny, who vanished from Vancouver more than 30 years ago.
A Vancouver police missing persons bulletin says Kenny, who would be 67 now, struggled with mental health challenges and lived a transient lifestyle. His family last had contact with him in 1993.
According to RCMP, Kenny was originally from Ontario, and was known for travelling by train.
Stor said there are clues that could link the two men.
“We’ve talked to a lot of people who knew him when he was still fine and they all tell us that he used to always speak English, and when he spoke English, it was with an accent that they say sounded American or Canadian,” Stor said.
He also went by multiple other nicknames, including “Chris the Canadian,” Louis, Lee, Ponytail, Sonny and John.
John Russell Kenny was reported missing from Vancouver more than 30 years ago. (Vancouver Police Department)
Vancouver police confirmed they were “actively collaborating” with their counterparts in the Netherlands and Interpol to determine if Lucky is indeed Kenny.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and if a positive identification is made, we will provide an update as soon as appropriate,” VPD said in an email.
Stor said because this is not a criminal investigation, police are limited in their power to do a DNA test, though it is possible if a family member comes forward.
She also cautioned it was “way too soon” to say Lucky is Kenny based on photos, adding investigators now have six solid leads.
“Lucky cannot be six people at once,” she said. “So we don’t want to give families false hope.”
Lucky is currently living in an Amsterdam care facility where he lacks the ability to communicate. (Netherlands National Police Corps)
Dutch police say Lucky is currently living in an Amsterdam care centre.
He is capable of speaking a handful of English words, including “nonsense” and “definitely,” but professionals working with him say he lacks the capacity to make decisions for himself, according to police.
Before his collapse, police say he was involved in a Buddhist community in Amsterdam, and that he may have history in Nepal.
In Amsterdam, he was known to frequent the shops and market stalls of Waterlooplein, as well as a restaurant called Soupenzo.
A pair of retired Dutch police detectives are now leading the effort to identify him.
“He is by himself, it’s a sad story,” Stor said.
“They hope that there might be family that want to get in contact with him, so maybe we can make days a little bit brighter.”