Associated Press Published

Police: Remains Found Near New River Gorge Believed to Be Student Missing Since 1998

Robert Leroy Kovack

West Virginia State Police say the discovery of human remains and personal possessions near the New River Gorge Bridge could solve an 18-year-old mystery: the disappearance of a Virginia Tech graduate student.

State Police Sgt. Kenneth Tawes told The Roanoke Times that the remains were found in a heavily wooded area Thursday along with Robert L. Kovack’s driver’s license, a college ID and car keys.

The 24-year-old from Rivesville disappeared Sept. 18, 1998, on his way to a West Virginia University-Maryland football game in Morgantown.

 
His vehicle was found out of gas five days later. It was parked and locked near the New River Gorge Bridge.