After a decade of uncertainty, the family of Jesse Lee Farber has received long-awaited answers.
Human remains discovered in Walker Township, Schuylkill County, have been positively identified as belonging to the Tamaqua man who went missing in 2015.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville, ATV riders reported finding skeletal remains near a trail in July 2025. Investigators responded to the area and recovered human remains, later confirmed through laboratory analysis as Farber’s. Family members were notified of the discovery.
Subsequent searches of the area led to the recovery of additional remains, with assistance from the Schuylkill County Coroner’s Office and the Northeast Search and Rescue canine team. .
On the “Finding Jesse Farber” Facebook page, loved ones shared an emotional statement following confirmation of the remains.
“After ten long years, partial remains of Jesse Farber have been found,” the post read. The update noted that volunteers discovered several bones during a recent search, while law enforcement later confirmed they were human. Additional remains found earlier in the year were also linked to Farber.
The family said the breakthrough came after new analysis of Farber’s cell tower data identified a fresh search zone. Volunteers, law enforcement, and advocates had spent years searching the rugged terrain of Tamaqua, keeping the case in the public eye through community efforts and media coverage.
“This is a bittersweet moment,” the post continued. “While I am deeply grateful to finally have confirmation that the remains are Jesse’s, it’s also heartbreaking to let go of that small hope that he might still return to us someday.”
The statement emphasized that not all of Farber’s remains have been recovered. Specialized searches are planned in the coming weeks to continue the recovery effort.
The family extended thanks to the Pennsylvania State Police, Schuylkill County Coroner’s Office, Tamaqua Police Department, and particularly Chief Rick Hobbs, who was recognized for his persistence in pursuing the case. They also acknowledged volunteers, missing persons advocates, and media outlets who helped ensure Jesse’s story was never forgotten.
“There will be more updates as the recovery continues,” the family wrote. “We will also be planning a public Celebration of Life for Jesse, so that everyone who has stood by us, searched with us, and grown to care about Jesse over the last ten years can come together to honor him and share in this journey toward closure.”
Farber was reported missing in 2015, sparking one of the region’s longest and most determined missing persons searches. Over the years, volunteers and law enforcement scoured miles of rugged mountainside terrain, hoping for answers.
While his discovery brings closure to some questions, investigators continue to seek information surrounding the circumstances of his disappearance and death.
The Facebook post assured supporters that the “Finding Jesse Farber” effort will live on, both to honor Jesse’s memory and to help other families still searching for their missing loved ones.
The investigation into Farber’s disappearance and death remains active, and anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Seiler at 570-874-5300