The Berks County Coroner’s Office is working with the Reading Police Department and forensic specialists to identify human remains discovered last week inside a vacant home in Reading.
According to Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel, the office was notified of the discovery on Friday, October 2, 2026, at approximately 6:17 p.m. The remains were found in a vacant residence in the 500 block of South 6th Street.
Authorities have not yet identified the deceased individual or determined the cause and manner of death.
The Coroner’s Office said the investigation involves multiple forensic disciplines, with specialists examining the remains to help establish the person’s identity and determine what happened.
A forensic pathologist has already performed an autopsy. The remains will next be examined by a forensic odontologist, who will document and map the deceased person’s teeth. Investigators may be able to compare those findings with existing dental records to help confirm an identity.
Two teams of forensic anthropologists from the University of South Florida in Tampa are also expected to arrive later this week to assist with the examination.
Their analysis will help investigators estimate the deceased person’s age, biological sex, height and ancestry. The specialists will also examine the bones for evidence of possible trauma or injuries.
In addition, two certified forensic entomology technicians from the Berks County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and collected insect specimens. Those samples have been submitted to Kean University for further scientific examination.
Forensic entomology, the study of insects associated with human remains, can provide investigators with additional information relevant to a death investigation.
The Coroner’s Office said DNA and toxicology samples are also collected when possible. DNA evidence may be submitted to a private forensic laboratory for testing and comparison in an effort to establish the deceased person’s identity.
Throughout the investigation, the Coroner’s Office and Reading Police Department are working together and sharing investigative findings.
Officials emphasized that identifying human remains and determining the circumstances surrounding a death can be a lengthy process, particularly when multiple forensic examinations are required.
“Our goal is to give this person a name and to determine what happened to them,” the Coroner’s Office stated in the release. “Every person deserves to be identified, and our office will continue to use every available forensic resource to provide answers to this investigation and, ultimately, to the person’s family.”
The investigation remains ongoing. The Coroner’s Office said additional information will be released when appropriate.