WILKES-BARRE — A body found earlier this week in the wooded area behind Host Inn on Kidder Street is connected to the weeks-long investigation on Carlisle Street, where human remains were discovered in the basement, investigators announced Thursday.
Luzerne County Coroner Jillian Matthews, Police Chief Joseph Coffay, and Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce stated in a joint announcement that investigators are still working to determine the identity of both bodies, each of which was found to have varying degrees of decomposition.
The statement indicates that further details cannot be disclosed at this time due to the sensitive nature of the investigation.
Investigators mentioned that additional information that does not compromise the case's integrity will be made public as it becomes available.
Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is urged to contact the Wilkes-Barre City Detective Division via Lt. Matthew Stash at 570-208-0911 or Detective James Conmy at 570-208- 6775.
The body was located at the bottom of a steep slope behind Host Inn near Exit 1 of the North Cross Valley Expressway just before noon on March 26.
State police at Wilkes-Barre, the Troop P Forensic Services Unit, Wilkes-Barre police, and Luzerne County detectives arrived at the scene.
The remains discovered in the basement of 142 Carlisle St. were confirmed to be human on March 12.
Due to the state of decomposition, Mercyhurst University in Erie provided assistance in collecting the remains and conducting the examination.
According to investigators, police initially arrived at the house late in the evening on Feb. 27 because they had received information indicating that some form of remains would be found in the home.
Wilkes-Barre City Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Services Unit were present at the scene.
City Police remained at the home throughout the night, and the investigation continued on Wednesday morning when students in the anthropology course at Mercyhurst University journeyed across the state to aid in the collection of the remains.
Investigators were observed entering and leaving the home for hours, carrying shovels and buckets.
