OLD FORGE, Pa. — Human remains were found during the search in Lackawanna County related to a missing businessman from Old Forge, according to the Lackawanna County district attorney.
The DA said they are hopeful that the remains are those of Robert Baron, a restaurant owner who disappeared from his business in 2017.
Investigators returned on Wednesday to search an area near Pagnotti Park in Old Forge for a local businessman missing for six years.
Borough police had the entrance to the park blocked, and vehicles have been going in and out of the area.
This is the second day that authorities have been searching this part of Old Forge.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell says this investigation and search is related to the January 2017 disappearance of Robert Baron.
County and state investigators were out again, along with the FBI and New York State Police, who brought in specially trained dogs to aid in the search.
The county coroner was also back, as well as an anthropology team from Mercyhurst University in Erie.
It is unclear if anything has been found, but there has been a great deal of activity.
Baron was reported missing by his family on January 26, 2017, and police found a crime scene in his pizza shop, Ghigiarelli's, on South Main Street in Old Forge. Baron's body has never been found.
There have been several searches since his disappearance, but this is one of the biggest efforts in six years.
The Baron family made a statement to Newswatch 16:
"We would like to thank the PA State Police, especially Trooper Greg Allen, Scranton FBI, NY State Police and their search dogs and team, Lackawanna County personnel, and everyone else who has worked and is working to bring Bob home ... We feel like something positive has to come from all this hard work. We have our fingers crossed."
See past Newswatch 16 coverage of the search for Rober Baron below: