New River Gorge Bridge Human Remains

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Human remains under New River Gorge Bridge possibly student from '98 cold case - Workman preparing the New River Gorge Bridge for repairs came across a grisly find of human remains. West Virginia police are hoping that DNA extracted from the human remains will close a cold case from back in 1998 when a grad student’s car was found parked near the New River Gorge, but there was no sign of the 25-year-old.

According to Wavy.com News on March 12, it has been 18 years since Robert L. Kovack, a grad student at Virginia Tech, was last seen. On September 18, 1998 in Blacksburg, Virginia, Kovack was headed for a WVU football game in Morgantown, but he never returned home and no one has seen him since that day.

Kovack’s red Geo-Tracker was found parked near the New River Gorge Bridge five days after he went missing. The doors were locked, but there was no sign of the missing man. The West Virginia Gazette reports that Kovack has not been seen since ATM surveillance footage showed him withdrawing cash in Blacksburg, Virginia, back on Sept. 18, 1998.

West Virginia State Police Sgt. K.D. Horrocks of the Oak Hill detachment said that Kovack's family has been notified. He also said that "they’re just kind of anxious, to say the least, to try to bring closure to their son’s disappearance.” Police had searched the area around the bridge at the time his car was found, but some areas were so thick with brush that they were impossible to get to. Workmen were clearing thick brush around the base of the bridge when they found the human remains this week.

Back in 1998 police had questioned the family if Kovack's disappearance could have possibly been a suicide, but they were very sure that this was not the case. When police found his car there wasn't any clues or evidence inside the vehicle.

Early reports from the scene suggests the skeletal remains are those of Kovack, but until DNA evidence comes back, there won’t be an official identification. The area where the workmen found the remains has been roped off until the investigation is completed.

Kovack has relatives in West Virginia, said police. Back in 1998 the Blacksburg police were involve in the investigation and Sgt. Mike Albert is hoping that a positive DNA match will close this open cold case.