Cops finally crack mystery of the 'Pinnacle man' 50 years after his frozen corpse was found in a cave

Officials have finally identified the body of a man found frozen in a cave along the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania nearly 50 years after it was discovered. 

Nicholas Paul Grubb was 27 years old when he died in a cave near Pinnacle, Albany Township, on January 16, 1977. 

Known only as the 'Pinnacle man,' he was a young white male with blue eyes and curly reddish hair before his remains were found by two hikers. 

Dressed in a brown suede jacket, Wrangler jeans, and hiking boots, he carried a small amount of cash.

While his time of death could not be determined by the autopsy, his cause of death was ruled as an overdose of phenobarbital and pentobarbital and the manner of death was listed as a suicide. With no one to claim his body, he was interred in Berks County Potter's Field, and the case went cold.

After nearly 50 years, officials have finally identified a man found frozen in a cave along the Appalachian Trail as Nicolas Paul Grubb, a 27-year-old man from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania

Pictured: A sketch of Grubb after his frozen body was found

Despite extensive efforts, including exhumation and DNA testing, his identity remained elusive until a cold case detective found his original fingerprint cards, leading to a swift identification. 

In 2019, Grubb's remains were exhumed from Potter's Field in Berks County. A genealogical analysis conducted in 2023 failed to identify him, according to the county coroner's office. 

'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 on Tuesday. 

'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.'   

Nicolas Paul Grubb, known as 'Nicky' to his family, served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard before his death. After his honorable discharge in 1971, Grubb's life was tragically cut short on the Appalachian Trail. 

Investigators have confirmed that over the past 15 years, at least 10 individuals have been compared to the remains of a man known only as 'Grubb'. These comparisons were made using fingerprints and dental x-rays. 

In 2019, Grubb's remains were exhumed from Potter's Field in Berks County. A genealogical analysis conducted in 2023 failed to identify him, according to the county coroner's office. 

Officials are working to learn more about the circumstances surrounding his death.

They plan to amend his death certificate and return his remains to his family plot.

The Berks County Coroner's Office is actively involved in bringing Grubb home.

Nicolas Paul Grubb, known as 'Nicky' to his family, served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard before his death. After his honorable discharge in 1971, Grubb's life took a tragic turn

DailyMail.com previously reported on the discovery of the mummified body of American climber William Stampfl in Peru 22 years after he disappeared climbing the Andes

William Stampfl was reported missing in June 2002, aged 59, when an avalanche buried his climbing party on Mount Huascaran in the Ancash region of Peru.

His remains were found in ice on Friday, exactly 22 years and three days after the anniversary of his death, Stampfl's family has revealed.

A pair of climbers and their guide found Stampfl in the Cordillera Blanca range during their descent of the mountain after his remains had been exposed by an ice melt.

Stampfl's body, as well as his clothes, harness and boots had been well-preserved by the ice and freezing temperatures. His ID was found among his possessions, allowing for the climbers to identify him and contact his loved ones.

The family worked with local guides and authorities to recover his remains over the weekend. His body was then put in a morgue in the city of Huaraz.