Remains identified as boater
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office Friday positively identified skeletal remains found along the Monongahela River this week as those of missing boater Steve R. Berry Jr. Berry, 35, of Amity, Washington County, disappeared April 22 after the fishing boat he was in capsized near the Maxwell Lock and Dam, 32 miles upriver from where his bones were found Wednesday.
Luzerne Township Fire Chief Ryan Nichols noted that the river level was high when the boating accident occurred.
Berry had been in a 16-foot bass boat owned by Trent Stupak, 40, of Washington when the boat capsized below the dam, spilling both men into the river.
Although they were both wearing life jackets at the time of the accident, they both went under and rescue efforts were unsuccessful.
Crews from the Luzerne Township Volunteer Fire Department remained on the scene for two weeks searching for the bodies along with volunteers from surrounding departments and dive teams.
Stupak’s body was recovered a week after the accident, but there was no sign of Berry until this past week.
According to Forward Township Police Chief Tom Staley, a woman who lives near the river was walking along the shore Wednesday evening and discovered what appeared to be human bones.
The Allegheny County detectives were called in, as well as the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office cadaver dog, Saber.
Saber’s handler and forensic investigator Joe Angotti said the bones his 4-year-old Doberman pinscher found were definitely human.
Although clothing and other items found with the bones indicated that the remains were those of the missing boater, a positive identification could not be made until dental records were obtained Friday.