Maryland State Police criminal investigators were able to identify the body of man found in a state park through his knee replacements.
The body has been identified as that of John H. Hagegeorge, last known to have lived in Catonsville, Md.
The man’s body was found in April during a search for missing teenager Phylicia Barnes in the Baltimore County section of Patapsco Valley State Park, according to police. There was no identification found.
After fingerprint checks and other forensic tests did not provide a match, an investigator used the serial numbers on the knee replacements to track down the hospital where they were installed, police said. The investigator then identified the patient who received the knee replacements and located his wife.
Hagegeorge had been estranged from his wife since 2006 and she said she did not file a missing person’s report because she did not know he was missing, according to police.
During Hagegeorge’s autopsy it was determined that his death was from exposure and natural causes, and there was no indication of foul play, police said.
