Nearly 50 years after a man’s frozen body was found in a mountain cave in the northeastern United States, forensic experts have identified the dead man, who was also known as the “Pinnacle Man.” “This identification brings long-awaited clarity to the family,” said Chief Forensic Officer John Fielding.
Hikers discovered the body in January 1977 on the famed Appalachian Trail. The coroner’s office said it was 27-year-old Nicholas Paul Grubb of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
Autopsy revealed a drug overdose
The hikers said at the time that the dead man was, according to the police, far too lightly dressed for the cold season. An autopsy at the time showed that the man had died of a drug overdose and that there was no foul play.
However, he was not identified and the case became an unsolved cold case. Since the discovery site was in the Berks district near the Pinnacle Mountain peak, it has since been referred to as the ‘Pinnacle Man’ mystery. The remains were exhumed in 2019 after a lead seemed to lead to two missing persons cases. DNA samples were taken at the time, but were unsuccessful. An attempt to reconstruct the face as a drawing using modern technology also failed.
Original fingerprints appeared in old files
A detective’s persistence eventually led to success: among piles of old files, the officer recently found the file with the original fingerprints of the man, who had been considered missing for decades. The police only had copies, which according to the investigators were not enough for a comparison. The prints were entered into the missing persons database and within an hour Grubb was identified.
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It turns out the 27-year-old had served in the National Guard for a while. But much remains a mystery, including the exact circumstances of his death. Investigators at the time believed it was a drug-induced suicide, but current forensic experts doubt that, as the Berks County deputy chief medical examiner told the Washington Post (Wednesday). The investigation into the case is therefore continuing.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
