Remains found in North Union identified as those of missing teen
The remains found in North Union Township last week have been identified as those of a missing teen, Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker said Tuesday.
Kaitlin Whoolery, 17, had been missing since Nov. 23, when she was seen leaving a home on Oakland Avenue in Uniontown.
Trooper Kalee Barnhart, public information officer for state police in Uniontown, said Whoolery’s remains are currently at Mercyhurst University in Erie for analysis to assist with determining the cause and manner of her death.
Until that analysis is complete, Barnhart said, officials cannot determine if Whoolery’s death is criminal in nature.
Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said determining the cause and manner of death would be a long process.
Uniontown City Police and state police discovered Whoolery’s remains near an abandoned house in the area of Washington Avenue and Hogsett Lane on the afternoon of April 16, after receiving information about a missing person.
The following day, a search was conducted under the direction of Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat, head of the forensic anthropology department at Mercyhurst. About 20 others were on the team that worked to excavate the bones.
On Friday, forensic pathologist Dr. Jennifer Hammers tested the bones and preserved tissues for the purposes of identification.