Executive Summary
- Human remains were discovered on December 28 near the 18th green of a golf course in the Flying Hills Community of Berks County.
- The U.S. Marshals Service is investigating a potential match to Travelle Martin, a man who went missing after fleeing police in January 2025.
- Cumru Township Police confirmed the remains are human but could not immediately determine the gender.
- Officials stated this discovery is unrelated to a separate set of remains found in the same township in April 2025.
The U.S. Marshals Service and local authorities in Pennsylvania are currently conducting forensic testing on human remains discovered in Berks County to determine if they belong to a man who has been missing for nearly a year. According to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, the remains were located in a wooded area near the Flying Hills Community, prompting an immediate investigation into the identity of the deceased.
The discovery was made shortly after 6 p.m. on December 28 near Lakewood Drive. Officials from the District Attorney’s Office detailed that the remains were situated approximately 20 yards off a golf cart path leading to the 18th green in Flying Hills. While Cumru Township Police confirmed the remains are human, investigators noted that the gender could not be immediately determined at the scene.
Authorities are specifically focusing their identification efforts on a potential link to Travelle Martin. The U.S. Marshals Service stated that the discovery site is in the same vicinity where Martin was last seen fleeing from law enforcement in January 2025. Cumru Police records indicate that Martin fled from officers responding to a reported domestic incident earlier that year. despite the deployment of K-9 units and drones during the initial search, Martin was not located at that time.
The District Attorney’s Office also clarified that this discovery is distinct from a separate case involving human remains found in Cumru Township in April 2025. Investigators confirmed that the two incidents are not related.
Investigative Outlook
The primary focus for law enforcement is now the forensic identification process, which typically involves dental record comparisons or DNA analysis to provide a conclusive match. The confirmation of identity is critical not only for the ongoing investigation but also for providing closure to the families involved in long-term missing persons cases. If the remains are positively identified as the individual who fled custody, the investigation will likely shift toward determining the cause and manner of death to rule out foul play or environmental factors. It is important to note that while Travelle Martin was sought in connection with a domestic incident, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
