Weeks after a Bethlehem Navy veteran vanished on a routine real-estate errand to the Poconos, human remains believed to be those of 43-year-old Matthew Thompson were found on March 8 near the Mount Pocono municipal wastewater treatment facility. The discovery appears to close a tense missing-person search that began after he was last seen on Feb. 13, when he drove to the area to finalize paperwork on a new home. An autopsy scheduled for March 10 is expected to formally confirm his identity and determine the cause of death.
Search timeline and evidence
Thompson was reported missing by his wife after she last saw him around 9 a.m. on Feb. 13, and investigators say his phone activity stopped that afternoon, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Police told the outlet that Thompson drove to Tobyhanna for a real-estate meeting and that his car was later towed from a private road that evening. Surveillance footage then reportedly captured him on the unit block of Fork Street in Mount Pocono. Investigators also said Thompson requested an Uber but left the area before the driver arrived. Human remains located on March 8 near the Mount Pocono Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility are believed to be his, and an autopsy was set for March 10, NBC10 reported.
Family's plea and search effort
Thompson's wife, Joselyn Burgos, said she and volunteers spent weeks combing the area and using phone-tracking apps in a desperate effort to find him, LehighDaily reported. She described Thompson as a disabled Navy veteran living with PTSD and bipolar disorder, and urged the public not to jump to conclusions while authorities sort through the evidence. Local police and regional search-and-rescue teams aided the search following his disappearance, according to the outlet.
What investigators say next
Authorities have not released a cause of death, and the case remains under active investigation, Stroudsburg Herald reported. Officials have asked the public to respect the family's privacy as they await final autopsy results. The area around the Mount Pocono treatment plant is still under review by investigators while coroners complete their work, according to the reporting. Anyone with information has been urged to contact local law enforcement with tips.
