The discovery of human remains and personal items near the New River Gorge Bridge could solve an 18-year-old mystery: the disappearance of a Virginia Tech graduate student, said West Virginia State Police on Friday.
Robert L. Kovack, 24, was a student in Virginia Tech's architecture program when he disappeared Sept. 18, 1998. He'd been on his way to a West Virginia University-Maryland football game in Morgantown.
Kovack's Geo Tracker was found near the New River Gorge Bridge, out of gas several days later. It was parked and locked.
On Thursday, human remains were found in a heavily wooded area below the bridge, along with Kovack's driver's license, a college ID and car keys, State Police Sgt. Kenneth Tawes told the Roanoke Times.
They were found during construction on the bridge, the Roanoke Times reported. Crews had been clearing trees and brush below the bridge at the time.
Tawes said an initial investigation indicates the remains belong to Kovack. They will be taken to the Smithsonian for further identification.
Kovack's brother, Mike Kovack, told The Roanoke Times a positive identification could take days.
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"As a family, we're hopeful this is truly remains of my brother. However, until we can get proof positive identification, it's speculation and conjecture, at best," he said.
