Body Pulled From The Delaware In Bucks Identified As Lehigh Valley Man

SOLEBURY TOWNSHIP, PA — A body recovered from the Delaware River in Solebury Township on Easter Sunday morning has been identified as a Hellertown man who went missing in December.

Adam Zimpfer, age 40, of Hellertown, was reported missing from Allentown on December 26, 2022, according to Solebury Township Police who were able to track down the identity of the body through DNA testing and information located on the man's clothing.

According to police, a passerby walking along the Delaware Canal Towpath reported a possible "body" lodged on the rocks in the Delaware River on April 9 at about 10:15 a.m.

Solebury Township Police responded to the area of Virginia Forest Park along Route 32 (River Road) and were able to view what appeared to be a deceased subject on a rock landform on the river between the towpath and Hendrick Island.

Based on the location of the body, police requested assistance from New Hope Eagle and Point Pleasant Fire Company's Marine Units.

Investigators from the Solebury Township Police Department and the Bucks County Coroner’s Office arrived on the rock landform and determined that an adult man was found deceased wearing a hooded jacket, t-shirt, pants, and boots.

Police reported that the remains of the deceased were unidentifiable and further investigation would be needed to determine the identity.

On Monday, an autopsy was conducted at the Bucks County Coroner's Office in Warminster and some information pertaining to a potential identity of the deceased was obtained. It was also noted that there were no signs of foul play observed during the autopsy with toxicology and manner/cause of death pending further results, police said.

Using identifiable information found in the clothing of the deceased man investigators conducted a records check and learned of a possible missing person report from Allentown, Lehigh County.

Solebury Police contacted the Allentown Police Criminal Investigations Division pertaining to the report.

DNA samples from the deceased were collected for testing to use as a comparison with possible biological family member(s) of the missing man from Allentown.

Investigators from Solebury Township Police and Allentown Police worked together with Bensalem Township Police Criminal Investigation Division who assisted with the use of their BODE Rapid Hit ID DNA testing instrument.

Testing of the DNA from the deceased and a biological family member of the reported missing subject was conducted with results showing the deceased was a relative/brother of the man listed in the missing person's report, police said.