Frozen Man Discovered in Appalachian Trail Cave Identified After 50 Years

Almost fifty years after a man was discovered frozen in a cave along the Appalachian Trail, authorities in Pennsylvania have finally identified him as Nicolas Paul Grubb. Grubb, a 27-year-old from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard during the early 1970s.

His body was found on January 16, 1977, by two hikers near the Pinnacle, a peak within the Blue Mountain range known for its stunning views. The location is approximately 65 miles northwest of Grubb’s hometown. It’s believed that he had died several days before the hikers stumbled upon his remains.

At the time, officials conducted an autopsy and concluded that Grubb’s death was a drug-overdose suicide. His identity remained unknown for decades, as he was buried in a cemetery in Berks County after authorities collected his fingerprints and other details.

“The man remained unidentified – a nameless figure in a long forgotten case,” stated Berks County Coroner John A. Fielding III during a recent press conference.

Over the past five years, local authorities initiated renewed efforts to solve this cold case. In 2019, Grubb’s body was exhumed in hopes of extracting usable DNA samples, but all attempts came back inconclusive. The following year, a genealogical testing firm was contacted, yet this effort also failed to yield any results.

Faced with these challenges, investigators sought another avenue by commissioning a new sketch of the unidentified man. Unfortunately, when the coroner’s office examined the remains, they discovered that the skull was not complete, making any facial reconstruction impossible. With few options left, it seemed that the mystery would persist.

George Holmes, chief deputy of the Berks County Coroner’s Office, expressed disappointment over the setbacks during the investigation.

However, a significant breakthrough occurred in August when investigators stumbled upon the original fingerprints taken at the time of Grubb’s discovery. These had been buried under piles of paperwork for decades. The originals contained crucial ridge details that facilitated a match.

In less than an hour, an FBI fingerprint analyst was able to link those prints to records from 1975, when Grubb had been arrested in Colorado. Holmes noted, “It was good, old-fashioned police work” that led to this unexpected resolution.

After confirming Grubb’s identity, the coroner’s office, in collaboration with local police, located a family member who provided official documents and photographs that further confirmed his identity.

Fielding remarked, “It’s moments like these that remind us of the importance of our work to provide answers, bring closure, and give the unidentified a name and a story.”

As the investigation continues, questions remain about Grubb’s life and the circumstances that led him to the cave where he was found. Holmes indicated there were no signs of foul play in the area, which was rugged and challenging to access. “It was definitely a place he sought shelter at the time,” Holmes mentioned, adding that Grubb was found dressed in light clothing and had apparently attempted to start a fire.

“That’s all we really know from the scene, so the rest of it is still a question mark for us,” he acknowledged.

As authorities probe deeper into the case, they hope to piece together more about Grubb’s life, his journey, and the events leading to his untimely death. The case not only highlights the resolve of law enforcement in solving cold cases but also serves as a poignant reminder of the lives behind the names that go unrecognized.

Source: USA Today