Sheriff: Human remains found in Smyth County, Va. believed to be of missing man

Faith Little
·1 min read

SMYTH COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office said human remains found Saturday afternoon in Skulls Gap are believed to be those of Eric Pennington, a man previously reported missing from the area.

A release from the sheriff’s office said the remains were located “in the vicinity of the search area” where Pennington was initially reported missing on June 9.

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Investigators previously told News Channel 11 that Pennington was reported missing after he didn’t return from a fishing spot his friends had left him at in Skulls Gap. Pennington was known to have health challenges, and that was a primary reason for the sheriff’s office’s search, investigators said.

The release said the discovered remains and some clothes collected by investigators were sent to a medical examiner’s office in Roanoke for positive identification. The sheriff’s office said its investigation is continuing, pending the report from the medical examiner.

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