Remains believed to be those of missing Bethlehem man found, police say | State

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bethlehem Police Department says remains believed to be those of a missing city resident were found in the area of the Mount Pocono Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility Sunday.

On Feb.15, shortly after 8:30 a.m., the Bethlehem Police Department received a report that Matthew Thompson had been missing, according to a news release from city police. 

City police say preliminary observations of the remains did not reveal any clear or apparent signs of foul play. The investigation is ongoing, and an autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday, city police said.

Investigators believe the recovery of Thompson’s remains may provide additional clarity regarding the events that occurred during the late evening hours of Feb. 13 and the early morning hours of Feb. 14.

Police said he was last seen Feb. 13 around 9 a.m. Within hours of the initial missing person report on Feb. 15, Bethlehem Police investigators checked hospitals, correctional facilities, and surrounding law enforcement jurisdictions, police said in the news release.

License plate reader systems were reviewed, and Thompson was entered into national law enforcement databases as a missing person, according to city police.

Thompson had traveled to the Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania area earlier on Feb.15 to complete a real estate transaction in preparation for a pending move, city police said in the news release.

During the afternoon of Feb. 13, Thompson stopped communicating via his cell phone, police said.

City police said the vehicle Thompson was driving was later towed from a private roadway in the evening. Investigators also learned that later that night Thompson tried to request an Uber ride, but he left the location before the driver arrived, according to the news release.

During this timeframe, Thompson was seen on surveillance cameras in the unit block of Fork Street in Mount Pocono, according to police. The footage represents the last confirmed sighting of Thompson, city police said.

City police said human remains believed to be those of Thompson were found in the area of the Mount Pocono Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility Sunday.

“The Bethlehem Police Department extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Thompson’s family and friends and asks the public to keep them in their thoughts while also respecting their privacy during this extremely difficult time,” city police said in the news release.