Authorities in Berks County, Pennsylvania, have identified human remains found in a cave used by hikers on the Appalachian Trail nearly 50 years ago.
Berks County Coroner John A. Fielding III told reporters during a news conference that hikers discovered the remains of a man in a cave near The Pinnacle who went missing on the Appalachian Trail on Jan. 16, 1977.
“For 47 years, this man remained unidentified, a nameless figure in a long-forgotten case,” Fielding said. “But today, I am honored to announce that, thanks to the unwavering determination of federal, state and local agencies, the Berks County Coroner's Office has confirmed the identity of this individual. His name is Nicolas Paul Grubb, a 27-year-old man from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.”
FOX 29 in Philadelphia reported that investigators believe Grubb took his own life, adding that it was determined he overdosed on phenobarbital and pentobarbital.
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The Berks County Coroner's Office in Pennsylvania has identified remains found nearly 50 years ago on the Appalachian Trail as those of Nicolas Paul Grubb. (Berks County Coroner's Office)
According to Drugbank.com, pentobarbital is a barbiturate used to treat short-term insomnia, while phenobarbital is a barbiturate used to treat all types of seizures except absence seizures.
Researchers have been comparing Grubb's remains to those of 10 people over the past 15 years, using fingerprints and dental X-rays.
In 2019, Grubb's remains were exhumed from a cemetery in Berks County for genealogical analysis, but four years later, researchers still have not been able to identify him.
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The FBI matched a fingerprint card to Nicolas Paul Grubb within an hour of receiving the evidence. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Researchers also attempted facial approximations, but facial bones were broken or missing due to the exhumation process.
After submitting the original fingerprint card to the national database of missing and unclaimed remains, the coroner's office said, an FBI expert determined a match within an hour.
“This identification brings a long-awaited resolution to his family, who have been notified and have expressed their deep appreciation for the collective efforts that made this possible,” Fielding said. “It is moments like these that remind us of the importance of our work to provide answers, closure and a name and a story to the unidentified.”
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Fielding also said that every day since Grubb was identified, his team continues to learn more about the young man.
“Nicky, as he was known to his family, served our nation as a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in the early 1970s,” the coroner said. “He is also known to have lived in Colorado for a brief period.”
