Authorities have identified human remains found in an abandoned shed in Warren County as those of a missing man from Chester County. The investigation, conducted by Pennsylvania State Police with assistance from Mercyhurst University, found no signs of foul play. The man, Christopher M. Bryant, was identified through DNA analysis. Tim Hahn reported
In June, a landowner in Warren County, Pennsylvania, made a shocking discovery when he entered an abandoned shed on his property and found human remains. The Pennsylvania State Police launched an investigation into the incident with the assistance of Mercyhurst University. Their efforts led to the identification of the remains as those of a man who had been reported missing from Chester County since July 2022. State police stated that there were no signs of foul play.
It remains unknown how the man, identified as Christopher M. Bryant, ended up in a shed across the state from where he was reported missing. Bryant’s identification was made through DNA analysis in late October, making him one of three individuals identified in human remains investigations involving state police in the Erie region over the past 19 months. Two of the cases involved remains that were found in the spring of 2022.
The discovery of Bryant’s remains was reported to state police on June 6. The property, located in Freehold Township, Warren County, east of Corry, had an abandoned shed that the landowner had not entered for about a year. It was during his entry into the shed that he came across the remains.
State police enlisted the help of Dennis Dirkmaat, a professor of anthropology at Mercyhurst University, to assist with the investigation. Dirkmaat utilized DNA analysis and dental records to identify the body. They also planned to review missing persons reports in hopes of further information.
On October 24, state police announced that the remains found in the shed belonged to Bryant, who had been listed as a missing person out of Chester County. Bryant’s identification brought closure to his case, but the circumstances surrounding his presence in the shed remain a mystery.
The second case involved the discovery of remains in a wooded area west of Peach Street in Summit Township. State police were called to the scene on March 25, 2022, after a homeless man reported the remains. Authorities had received prior calls about suspected homeless people gathering in the area, and upon entering the wooded area, they discovered what appeared to be a homeless encampment. There was no evidence of recent activity at the site.
Forensic experts, including Dennis Dirkmaat, confirmed that the remains were human. Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook stated that the remains had been in the area for some time. The individual was eventually identified as Timothy Wright, a 55-year-old homeless man from Erie. Cook determined the cause of death to be natural, as there was no evidence of trauma. However, the exact cause of death remained undetermined.
In the third case, human remains were found along the creek bank of Oil Creek in Oil Creek State Park in Venango County. A man fishing in the area discovered the remains and promptly reported it to the Titusville Police Department. The photos of the remains were sent to Dirkmaat, who confirmed their human origin. Mercyhurst University officials collected the remains the following day. The individual was identified as Bradley White, a 45-year-old man from Titusville who had been reported missing since November 2018. The investigation into White’s remains is ongoing, with both Titusville police and state police involved.
These cases highlight the importance of thorough investigations and the use of forensic techniques to bring closure to families and communities. The identification of human remains can provide answers and help authorities determine the circumstances surrounding a person’s disappearance and death..