'Missing man' solves his own case after random 'flashback' revives his memory — returns 30 years later

The brain is considerably the most vital asset humans possess; that’s why there is a popular saying that goes “use your head.” A Canadian man’s “brainstorming” some thirty years after he went missing helped solve a mystery, per NBC. The Ontario police had lodged a missing persons report after the 21-year-old Edgar Latulip, who had developmental issues, suddenly disappeared. The cold case had no conclusion until 2016, when the now 50-year-old solved his own disappearance with a distinct flashback.

Latulip vanished in September 1986 following a disturbing episode. The adult with suicidal tendencies had jumped on a bus headed to Niagara Falls, according to CNN, adding that before his disappearance, the youth sustained a head injury. The cops suspected that Latulip had no clue that his family was looking for him. “It’s the only case that I know of where we’ve been able to find someone who has been missing for this long,” CTV quoted Det. Const. Duane Gingerich, of the Waterloo Regional Police.

In 2016, Latulip experienced his first flashback, leading him to have a glimpse of his past life. As per reports, he slowly remembered who he was and what his real name was. In the aftermath of the shocking revelation, the 50-year-old contacted a social worker, who later found his name on the missing persons’ network. The duo decided to take the matter to law enforcement in Kitchener.

“We brought in a team of detectives who sat down with him and had a chat and an interview. They found the missing persons case and communicated with the other police agency,” Constable Philip Gavin of the Niagara Regional Police Department told the American news outlet. Subsequently, a DNA test was ordered for the man who had been living half of his life 80 miles away from his family home, reported The Independent.

Notably, Latulip's disability had left an impact on his mental well-being. He reportedly had the brain of a 12-year-old back then. Moreover, his mother, Silvia Wilson, had to face abuse due to the youth’s developmental disorder. The man moved from Niagara Falls to St. Catharines in Ontario, said Constable Gavin, adding that he somehow fell and suffered the injury during the transition. The accident “robbed him of his memory and identity,” Gavin added.

Latulip’s family had lost all hope of his return, and his mother started a province-wide missing persons community. The network, with a digital presence on Facebook, referred to as ‘Ontario Missing People,’ was started by Wilson. The man’s now elderly mother expressed joy over her son returning home after almost three decades.

“She was very excited, as you would expect to be after not seeing a family member for 30 years,” said Gavin, after speaking with Latulip’s mother, who was living in Ottawa. The story of Latulip’s reunion with his family received widespread attention on social media. Among the reactions, Dionalyn Del Rosario wrote on Facebook, “Wow, it's really unusual, just like in a movie, and it happened for real! I'm glad he really knows who he is.” Michelle L. Bradley added, “I suffered a vicious attack at the hands of my mother's neighbor. I don't remember the first couple of years and will forever suffer from short-term memory loss. Thanks to my family for being there and helping me.”