Unsolved Mystery: Frozen Corpse Found in Cave After 40 Years
Authorities in Pennsylvania have finally identified the man known as the “Pinnacle Man” whose frozen remains were discovered in a cave beneath the Pinnacle on the Appalachian Trail back in 1977. The Berks County Coroner’s Office revealed that the man was Nicolas Paul Grubb during a recent press conference, bringing closure to a decades-old mystery.
The body of Grubb was found by two hikers in Albany Township during one of the coldest months in Pennsylvania history, with snow depths reaching nearly 40 inches. Described as a white male between the ages of 25 and 35, Grubb had blue eyes, curly red hair, and was estimated to be between 5’7” and 6’11” tall, weighing around 150 pounds.
After an autopsy in 1977, the cause of Grubb’s death was determined to be an overdose of Phenobarbital and Pentobarbital, with the manner of death listed as suicide. Despite efforts to identify him over the years, the case remained unsolved, with Grubb’s body unclaimed and buried in an unmarked grave.
In August 2019, Grubb’s body was exhumed and examined by a team of forensic experts, but initial tests proved inconclusive. However, a breakthrough came earlier this month when a cold case officer submitted Grubb’s fingerprints to the FBI for review. Within an hour, a match was found, confirming his identity.
Now that Grubb has been identified, his family is working with authorities to bring him home and bury him in a family plot. The Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting in this process, bringing closure to a long-standing mystery and allowing Grubb to finally rest in peace.
