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Pennsylvania State Police: Mercer County remains might be those of missing man
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Pennsylvania State Police are trying to determine whether human remains found in Mercer County are those of a man missing since summer.
The skeletal remains found by a hunter Saturday morning in a wooded area a half-mile north of Interstate 80 in East Lackawannock were a half-mile from the home of 80-year-old Donald Mariacher, who disappeared in July, state police said.
"We drew the connection right away," said state police Cpl. Douglas Maxwell, one of two investigating officers on the case. "We can't rule out that it's not him."
Donald Mariacher walked away from his home on Perry Highway in the small, rural town of Lackawannock in July.
His son, Mike Mariacher, said state police called Saturday morning with news of the discovery.
"It was a call I was dreading," Mike Mariacher said. "Right now, we're not real sure. [There is] not a whole lot to go on."
Cpl. Maxwell said the department's other missing person cases are years old and "you have to consider the possibility" the remains belong to Mr. Mariacher.
State police said it could take weeks before the remains can be identified through forensic analysis.
First Published December 3, 2012 10:14 am
