A mystery surrounding an unidentified man known as “Lucky” has taken another turn after Dutch and Canadian police confirmed that he is not John Russell Kenny, a Vancouver man who disappeared in 1994.
The identification question attracted international attention after Amsterdam police appealed to the public for help identifying Lucky, who was found collapsed on an Amsterdam street in May 2023 without identification. Authorities later determined that he had suffered a brain hemorrhage or stroke and was left with aphasia, a condition that affects the ability to speak, read, write and understand language. (Global News)
Fingerprints Rule Out Missing Vancouver Man
Earlier this month, speculation grew that Lucky could be John Russell Kenny, who disappeared from Vancouver in 1994 at age 34. Vancouver police began working with Amsterdam police and INTERPOL to determine whether the two men were the same person. (Global News)
That possibility has now been ruled out.
Amsterdam police spokesperson Marijke Stor said investigators working with Canadian authorities definitively established that Lucky and Kenny are different people. Vancouver police confirmed that the fingerprints of the two men did not match. (Global News)
More Than 500 Tips Received
The investigation into Lucky's true identity is far from over. Amsterdam police said they received more than 500 tips after releasing information about the unidentified man.
Those responses have produced several specific names, and detectives are now examining at least nine potential leads. Vancouver police are not currently involved in investigating those new leads. (Global News)
Police have cautioned people against attempting to identify Lucky solely from photographs, noting that incorrect identification could have serious consequences for people and families involved. (CityNews Toronto)
Who Is ‘Lucky’?
Lucky collapsed on an Amsterdam street on May 10, 2023. He was taken to hospital, where doctors determined that he had suffered a brain hemorrhage or stroke.
He had no identification with him and has remained largely unable to communicate. Investigators believe he may have spent time around a Buddhist community in Amsterdam and at a restaurant where people reportedly knew him by the nickname “Lucky.” Some people described him as “Chris the Canadian,” leading police to consider possible Canadian or American connections. (Global News)
Despite the new leads, police have not confirmed his nationality or identity.
Search for His Family Continues
Amsterdam authorities say the investigation is classified as a social investigation rather than a criminal case. Their goal is not only to determine Lucky's identity but also to discover whether he has relatives or people who know him and could reconnect with him. (Global News)
For now, the mystery remains unsolved. The latest fingerprint comparison has closed one possible chapter, but with hundreds of public tips and several new leads under review, investigators hope the next breakthrough could finally reveal who “Lucky” really is.
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