Remains are those of missing W. Pa. man, 80


December 24, 2012 at 8:39a.m.

Remains are those of missing W. Pa. man, 80

MERCER, Pa. (AP) — A coroner has confirmed that human remains found by a western Pennsylvania hunter earlier this month are those of an elderly man reported missing in the summer.

Eighty-year-old Donald Mariacher was last seen July 13 in East Lackawannock Township.

Several searches failed to find Mariacher, who police said was agoraphobic — or afraid to leave his house.

Skeletal remains now confirmed to be Mariacher’s were discovered by a hunter Dec. 1 in woods a half mile from his home. The Mercer County coroner says his death has been ruled accidental and due to environmental exposure.