Mystery of “Pinnacle Man” solved Mysterious dead man identified after almost 50 years
02.09.2024, 12:14 Listen to article
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In 1977, hikers came across a frozen corpse in the US state of Pennsylvania. For decades, the identity of the dead man, dubbed “Pinnacle Man,” remained a mystery. Ultimately, the solution to the case was not provided by modern technology, but rather by old files.
After almost 50 years, authorities in the USA have solved a mysterious death. In 1977, hikers found the frozen body of a young man in a cave in Pennsylvania. He was nicknamed “Pinnacle Man”, in reference to a peak in the Appalachian Mountains not far from where he was found.
The cause of death was determined to be a drug overdose, said investigator George Holmes, according to a CNN report. There was no evidence of foul play. However, the body could not be identified by appearance, clothing or possessions. During the autopsy, a dental impression and a fingerprint were taken. However, according to Holmes, the fingerprint was “misplaced”.
According to local TV station WFMZ, 42 years passed before authorities reopened the case of the mysterious dead man. According to the station, the body was exhumed in 2019 after dental records suggested a possible connection to two missing persons cases in Florida and Illinois. Forensic scientists from Berks County took DNA samples, but according to the station, they did not match the two missing persons cases.
Solution lies in old files
This year, police officer Ian Keck finally managed to solve the case. According to CNN, the investigator from the Pennsylvania State Police pored over old files and came across the fingerprint that was lost during the autopsy in 1977 – the missing link for 47 years. In mid-August, he submitted the print to the FBI’s national missing persons database.
Within an hour, the FBI’s fingerprint experts reported a match, as coroner Holmes said at a press conference. The “Pinnacle Man” is Nicholas Paul Grubb, who was 27 years old at the time of death and from Fort Washington in Pennsylvania. Not much is known about Grubb, except that he served in the army and was honorably discharged in 1971. The Berks County coroner’s office notified a family member of Grubb, who confirmed the dead man’s identity. He had asked for the remains to be buried in the family grave.
“This identification brings a long-awaited resolution to his family. They have been notified and expressed their deep gratitude for the collaborative efforts that made this possible,” CNN quoted Berks County Coroner John Fielding as saying. “It is moments like these that remind us how important our work is to provide answers, closure and give the unknown a name and a story.”
