DNA confirms human remains found in Tioga County were those of missing Westfield woman

The family of a Tioga County, Pennsylvania woman finally has closure a year after she went missing, and eight months after her car and human remains were located.

Phyllis Potter, 85, of Westfield, disappeared July 21, 2023, triggering a massive search by Pennsylvania State Police at Mansfield and other agencies, along with hundreds of citizen volunteers.

Potter's vehicle, a white 2009 Subaru Outback, was found in late October along North Fork Road in Brookfield Township, northwest of Westfield.

Skeletal remains were also found in the vicinity at the time, but police were waiting on autopsy and DNA results before making a positive identification.

DNA results finally came back recently and confirmed the remains as Potter's, according to Todd Wagaman, a detective with the Tioga County District Attorney's Office.

Following the autopsy, the cause of death was listed as undetermined due to the condition of the remains, Wagaman said. However, he added there was no indication of foul play or any signs of trauma.

After Potter went missing, Facebook groups were created to keep people updated on the search.

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A flyer shared in one Facebook group claims Potter had been staying with a friend in Potter Brook, which is just west of Westfield on state Route 49, the night before she went missing.

The friend heard Potter get up at 5 a.m. and leave without saying goodbye, according to the flyer, which also stated Potter had no cell phone, nor did she carry credit or debit cards.

Potter, who was predeceased by her husband in 2018, is survived by a son, a sister and several other relatives, according to her obituary.

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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Body of missing Tioga County, Pa. woman positively identified by DNA