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Authorities work to identify remains found near Hegins
Saturday, September 5, 2009 at 6:00AM Authorities work to identify remains found near Hegins article from the republicanherald September 5, 2009. The "cadaver dog" mentioned in the article is Lucas, one of Dave's personal dog's and a Kanto son, certified at 11 months of age as an area search dog through www.nasar.org. Lucas continues to work in the area in a number of diciplines
Published: September 5, 2009
HEGINS - Authorities are trying to determine if human remains found Monday in a wooded area of Frailey Township are those of a Lebanon County man reported missing last month.
State police Trooper Bernard Walasavage of the Schuylkill Haven station said the remains were found near the junction of Interstate 81 and Route 25.
Walasavage said troopers from his station are working with the Harrisburg station in the investigation into the disappearance of Keith Wiest, Grantville, who was reported missing by his family Aug. 11.
A vehicle owned by Wiest was found at the intersection of the two highways, and Harrisburg troopers requested assistance from Schuylkill Haven, Walasavage said.
He said that on Aug. 24, troopers contacted Consummate K-9 Training of Andreas for assistance with a search of the area using both search and cadaver dogs.
On Monday, Walasavage said the dogs were combing the area and, about 9:45 a.m., an alert by a cadaver dog led searchers to the human remains.
When the remains were found, Walasavage said the county coroner's office was contacted.
Although no positive identification has been made, the troopers said items found at the scene indicate that the remains are those of Wiest.
Schuylkill County Coroner Joseph Lipsett said Friday that his office is working with the state police and forensic pathologist Dr. Richard Bindie to positively identify the remains and determine the exact cause of death.
Lipsett said dental records are being reviewed and that Bindie is conducting forensic tests in hopes of determining exactly how the person died.
Walasavage said the investigation into both the remains and Wiest's disappearance are continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call troopers at 593-2000.