For almost 50 years, the remains of a man found in a cave near the Appalachian Trail remained unidentified. Now, thanks to the tireless efforts of investigators, he has finally been identified as Nicolas Paul Grubb, a 27-year-old man from Pennsylvania.
Officials in Berks County, Pennsylvania have identified human remains found in a cave used by hikers on the Appalachian Trail nearly 50 years ago.
According to Berks County Coroner John A. Fielding III, the remains were discovered by hikers in a cave near The Pinnacle, where a man disappeared on the Appalachian Trail on Jan. 16, 1977.
Decades-Old Appalachian Trail Mystery Solved: Hikers' Remains Identified as Nicolas Paul Grubb
For decades, the remains remained unidentified, but Fielding announced that through the collaboration of federal, state, and local agencies, they have now been confirmed as Nicolas Paul Grubb, a 27-year-old man from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
Investigators believe that Grubb took his own life, as determined by an overdose of Phenobarbital and Pentobarbital, which are barbiturates used to treat insomnia and seizures, respectively.
Decades-Old Appalachian Trail Mystery Solved: Hikers' Remains Identified as Nicolas Paul Grubb
Over the past 15 years, investigators compared Grubb's remains to 10 people, using fingerprints and dental x-rays. In 2019, his remains were exhumed from a cemetery in Berks County for genealogical analysis, but identification remained elusive.
However, after submitting the original fingerprint card to the national database for missing unidentified and unclaimed remains, the FBI matched a fingerprint card to Grubb within an hour of receiving the evidence.
Decades-Old Appalachian Trail Mystery Solved: Hikers' Remains Identified as Nicolas Paul Grubb
Fielding expressed gratitude for the collective efforts that led to the identification of Grubb, bringing closure to his family.
"Nicky, as he was known to his family, served our nation as a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in the early 1970s," said Fielding. "He was also known to have lived in Colorado for a short time."
The identification of Grubb's remains serves as a reminder of the importance of persistence in solving cold cases and providing resolution to families of missing persons.
The Berks County Coroner's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Grubb's disappearance and death, seeking to provide further insights into this tragic event.
