A man whose frozen body was discovered in a Pennsylvania cave in 1977 has finally been identified, ending a nearly 50-year-long mystery. The Berks County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the remains belong to Nicholas Paul Grubb, 27, from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
Remarkably, modern technology did not play a role in solving the case. Instead, Berks County Coroner John Fielding revealed at a Tuesday news conference that a Pennsylvania State Police detective solved the case the old-fashioned way, by reviewing files.
Discovery and Initial Investigation
On January 16, 1977, hikers found a frozen body in a cave below the Pinnacle in Albany Township. The autopsy revealed that the man could not be identified through his appearance, clothing, or belongings. The cause of death was determined to be a drug-induced overdose, with no signs of trauma suggesting foul play. Dental records and fingerprints were collected, but the fingerprint card was misplaced.
Breakthrough in the Case
After 42 years, authorities revisited the cold case. In 2019, Grubb’s body was exhumed after dental records linked him to missing person cases in Florida and Illinois. Despite DNA testing, no match was found. However, in early August 2024, a significant breakthrough occurred when Ian Keck of the Pennsylvania State Police discovered the misplaced fingerprint card from the 1977 autopsy.
The fingerprint card was submitted to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) on August 12, and within an hour, an FBI fingerprint expert matched the prints to Grubb’s.
Family Notification and Closure
The Berks County Coroner’s Office notified Grubb’s family, who confirmed his identity and requested that his remains be interred in the family plot.
“This identification brings long-awaited resolution to his family, who have expressed their deep appreciation for the collective efforts that made this possible,” Fielding said. “Moments like these remind us of the importance of our work in providing answers, bringing closure, and giving the unidentified a name and a story.”
