Account
Aug 14, 2024
Sep 25, 2024
Joseph
Smink
76
76
73 inches
200 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the quiet community of West Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, a 76-year-old man named Joseph Irvin Smink vanished on the evening of August 10, 2024. He was last seen at approximately 8:10 p.m., walking away from his home near the intersection of Pheasant Road and Fox Hill Road. His intended direction was westbound along Fox Hill Road, towards Compton Drive. At the time of his disappearance, there were slightly differing descriptions of his clothing; one account noted he was wearing a white t-shirt, black shorts that might have been boxer-style, and blue canvas shoes with white soles, while another reported a yellow shirt, black shorts, and white sneakers. Authorities expressed immediate concern, indicating they believed Mr. Smink could be at special risk of harm or injury, and might have been experiencing confusion when he went missing. Immediately following his disappearance, the Pennsylvania State Police launched an extensive search of the area surrounding his last known location. For several days, law enforcement and likely volunteers scoured the local terrain, hoping for any sign of the missing 76-year-old. Despite these significant and urgent efforts, the searches yielded no positive results, and Joseph Smink was not located. The community was alerted to his disappearance, with authorities asking the public to come forward with any information that could lead to his safe return. The Pennsylvania State Police in Harrisburg managed the investigation, continuing their work as days turned into weeks and months with no sign of Mr. Smink. As the months passed, the case remained unresolved. Then, on the evening of March 12, 2026, a somber discovery was made in a wooded area in West Hanover Township, not far from where Mr. Smink had disappeared. State Police were dispatched to Berkstone Circle after a report came in that human skeletal remains had been found. Investigators were led to the woods north of Kelly Drive, where the Troop H Major Case Team and the Dauphin County Coroner's Office began processing the scene. The remains were taken by the coroner's office to begin the difficult process of determining the individual's identity, as well as the cause and manner of death. While the investigation into the discovered remains is ongoing, the community is left to hope for answers in the unsettling disappearance of Joseph Smink, a case that began with a walk on a summer evening and has since been shrouded in uncertainty and concern.
Aug 10, 2024
West Hanover Township
Pennsylvania
Dauphin County
17112
No
151481
Pennsylvania State Police
Harrisburg
Pennsylvania
Dauphin County
17112
David Humphreys
Trooper
8000 Bretz Drive, Pennsylvania
7176717500
State
Law Enforcement
PA2024-1032501
Pennsylvania State Police
3804
Gray or Partially Gray
Blue
Blue
05/16/2026
