Nicolas Paul Grubb, formerly of Fort Washington and also known as the “Pinnacle Man”, was positively identified by the Berks County Coroner’s Office 47 years after he was found frozen in a cave below the Pinnacle on the Appalachian Trail.

The discovery was made on January 16, 1977 during one of the coldest winters in Pennsylvania’s history, officials said. Snow totals during that winter reached 49 inches.

An autopsy at Reading Hospital on January 17, 1977 listed the cause of death as an overdose of Phenobarbital and Pentobarbital and the manner of death was listed as a suicide.

Grubb’s unidentified body was buried in the Berks County Potter’s Field where it remained for decades because the original copy of fingerprints was missing.

A Pennsylvania state trooper found the original prints in August. Berks County Coroner John Fielding III said the discovery enabled authorities to identify Grubb after past attempts to do so with DNA and other methods had failed.

“For 47 years, this man remained unidentified. A nameless figure in a long-forgotten case,” Fielding said during a press conference on Tuesday. “But today I’m honored to announce that through the unyielding determination of federal, state and local agencies, the Berks County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of this individual. His name is Nicolas Paul Grubb, a 27-year-old man from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.”

Berks County Coroner Chief Deputy George Holmes said officials are working to learn more about Grubb, who was known by his family members as “Nicky” and served in Company C, 1/111th Infantry of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1971 before receiving an honorable discharge.

His relatives want his remains to be with the family plot. The Coroner’s Office is currently working to bring him home.

NBC10’s has additional details. Their video coverage is below:

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Photos: NBC10