A forensic autopsy and additional investigation failed to determine the cause and manner of death of a Reading man whose remains were found in Flying Hills in December, the Berks County coroner’s office announced Friday.
The skeletal remains of Travelle Martin were found Dec. 28 in a wooded area off Lakewood Drive in Cumru Township. He had been reported missing in January 2025.
According to investigators, Martin, 26, was last seen Jan. 2, 2025, after fleeing the Flying Hills residence of his girlfriend following an alleged domestic assault.
Police obtained an arrest warrant the next day charging Martin with simple assault and robbery, the latter stemming from the alleged theft of the woman’s cellphone. He was later declared a fugitive.
After the identification of his remains, a forensic autopsy was performed Jan. 9 at Reading Hospital.
Following that autopsy, Martin’s remains were taken to Mercyhurst University in Erie to undergo a detailed forensic anthropological examination.
According to the coroner’s office, the results of those comprehensive examinations and consultations led to an “undetermined” ruling for the cause and manner of Martin’s death.
Officials from the coroner’s office said the remains were largely skeletonized when they were recovered. There was no skeletal trauma identified, and toxicological testing was not possible due to the absence of soft tissue.
There was evidence that the remains had been submerged for a prolonged period of time before being exposed to dry land.
“While an undetermined ruling was not the conclusion we had wished for, we are hopeful that the recovery and identification of Travelle Martin will provide his parents and family with some measure of peace with the opportunity to lay their son to rest,” a statement from the coroner’s office said.