Sheriff: Human remains found in Smyth County, Va. believed to be of missing man

SMYTH COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office said human remains found Saturday afternoon in Skulls Gap are believed to be those of Eric Pennington, a man previously reported missing from the area.

A release from the sheriff’s office said the remains were located “in the vicinity of the search area” where Pennington was initially reported missing on June 9.

Investigators previously told News Channel 11 that Pennington was reported missing after he didn’t return from a fishing spot his friends had left him at in Skulls Gap. Pennington was known to have health challenges, and that was a primary reason for the sheriff’s office’s search, investigators said.

The release said the discovered remains and some clothes collected by investigators were sent to a medical examiner’s office in Roanoke for positive identification. The sheriff’s office said its investigation is continuing, pending the report from the medical examiner.

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