By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pocket knife found near the burned torso the Butler County Sheriff's Department is attempting to identify. (Photo provided)

HAMILTON - Investigators on Thursday released photographs of a pocket knife found with a burned human torso, hoping someone will recognize it and help police identify the victim's remains.

Found with the remains that were discovered Dec. 31 in Milford Township, the badly charred knife was sent to the state crime laboratory for analysis and evidence collection.

Then, sheriff's investigators used chemicals to try to restore the knife's original appearance as much as possible.

"I think there are enough distinctive characteristics on this knife that, if I were carrying it, a friend of mine would recognize it," Butler County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Craft said.

Investigators think the knife had been clipped to the waistband of the vicitm's pants, which the fire consumed.

Last week, investigators released photographs of a T-shirt and sweatshirt with designs partially intact. As a result, police received 20 additional tips, mostly from Greater Cincinnati, Craft said.

"Of those, we're still actively working two. The others, we've pretty much been able to eliminate," he said.

A forensic examination showed the victim was most likely an African-American male, 30 to 50 years old, 5-feet-6 to 5-feet-10, with a medium build, about 140 to 160 pounds.

The victim was wearing a T-shirt manufactured by Ecko Unltd., with the words, "Get 'Open'" in black letters underneath a wildlife design that was mostly destroyed. On top of the T-shirt, the victim was wearing a sweatshirt by Southpole-USA; it was emblazoned with "Southpole" in cursive letters, with "since '91" underneath. Investigators are unsure of the materials' colors.

Craft urges anyone with information to call the sheriff's office at 785-1300.

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com