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Who was the Somerton Man?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·3 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: he was Carl "Charles" Webb, born in Footscray in 1905, an electrical instrument maker who left Melbourne in…Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. He was Carl "Charles" Webb, born in Footscray in 1905, an electrical instrument maker who left Melbourne in… leads, with evidence 2 for, 1 against: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet.

Why it matters

For 73 years the case turned on the man's identity. The 2022 DNA identification is widely reported as the answer, but it has not been confirmed by police or the coroner, and the record should show both⁠[1]⁠[2]⁠[3].

Answers 3

Evidence: 2 for, 1 against
Most likely
Evidence: 2 against
Disputed
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible

History

  1. Identifinders International puts forward: he was Carl "Charles" Webb, born in Footscray in 1905, an electrical instrument maker who left Melbourne in…
  2. Bonvillian: autosomal DNA from hair in the death mask matched distant cousins on both the paternal and maternal sides of…For: He was Carl "Charles" Webb, born in Footscray in 1905, an electrical instrument maker who left Melbourne in…
  3. Identifinders International: webb's sister Freda married Thomas Keane, matching the 'T. Keane' and 'Keane' names on clothes in the…For: He was Carl "Charles" Webb, born in Footscray in 1905, an electrical instrument maker who left Melbourne in…
  4. Identifinders International: robin Thomson, proposed as the man's son on shared rare ear and tooth traits, was ruled out by DNA.Against: He was another named candidate (H. C. Reynolds, Carl Halban, or a relative of Jessica Thomson).
  5. Boisvert: south Australia Police have not confirmed the identification; as of July 2026 their report to the coroner was…Against: He was Carl "Charles" Webb, born in Footscray in 1905, an electrical instrument maker who left Melbourne in…
  6. Asked on this site
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