Modern Mysteries

Mystery of 'Pinnacle man' found dead in remote cave is solved at last

By T.K. Randall
August 29, 2024 ·  2 comments

The Appalachian Trail. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 Scott Basford On January 16th, 1977, a decades-long mystery would be sparked when hikers discovered the frozen body of a man in a cave near Pinnacle, Albany Township.

Dressed in a brown suede jacket, Wrangler jeans and a pair of hiking boots, the man - a white male with curly reddish hair - was carrying only a small amount of money and had no identification on him.

Despite extensive efforts by investigators, all attempts to determine the man's identity ultimately came up empty, leaving a cold case that would continue to endure for nearly 50 years.

It wasn't until a cold case detective discovered the man's original fingerprint cards that his identity could finally be determined."For 47 years, this man remained unidentified. A nameless figure in a long-forgotten case," Berks County Coroner John Fielding III said during a press conference.

"But today I'm honored to announce that through the unyielding 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."

It turned out that Grubb had served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard before taking on the challenge of hiking the Appalachian Trail which sadly took his life.

The exact circumstances surrounding his death, however, continue to remain a mystery.


Source: Mail Online | Comments (2)

Tags: Unidentified