Fisherman finds skull of missing man whose death is ‘suspicious,’ PA officials say

The search for a missing Pennsylvania man is over, and a death investigation is now underway after a fisherman found the man’s skull near a remote stretch of river, officials said.

The skull belongs to 40-year-old Michael K. Theys Jr., a Mineral Point man who was reported missing on Jan. 31, 2023, Cambria County officials said during a June 4 press briefing shared by WTAJ.

It was found washed up on the bank of the Little Conemaugh River, near Conemaugh Township, on May 16, the Altoona Mirror reported.

“I think we’re fortunate that a fisherman happened to be walking by and happened to have seen it,” District Attorney Greg Neugebauer said at the briefing, which comes after investigators identified the remains using dental records.

A forensic anthropologist examined the skull as well, but the report was inconclusive, Coroner Jeff Lees said.

While investigators still have many unanswered questions, they feel confident Theys didn’t disappear on his own.

Lees called the case “highly suspicious.”

“This has shifted from a missing persons case … to a suspicious death type of an investigation,” Neugebauer said.

The area where Theys’ skull was found is “very remote” and the terrain is rugged, requiring firefighters to climb down using ropes to get to it, officials said.

It could have washed down from somewhere up river, officials said, though they’re ultimately unsure how it ended up where it did.

“We have a timeline of his last known whereabouts,” Neugebauer said. “Frankly, we’ve had that for awhile now.”

Investigators searched the vicinity with cadaver dogs but didn’t turn up any more remains or clues. Neugebauer said he’s hopeful police can locate more of Theys’ bones, as they could point investigators to a cause and manner of death, which is an open question.

“As in any case like this, we want to get answers for his family and his friends and for his memory,” he said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office at 814-472-1680.

Conemaugh Township is a roughly 90-mile drive southeast from Pittsburgh.

This story was originally published June 5, 2024 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Fisherman finds skull of missing man whose death is ‘suspicious,’ PA officials say."