The Joyride
Frequently, quad riders and local hikers would get together at a well-known clearing not far from the residences of Yanisko and Delvecchio. There was nothing unusual about the place, as the boys had been there many times before.
Source: cafecrime.com
They had no idea that they would make a discovery that would alter the course of their lives while they were traveling. They just wanted to have fun and do the things they enjoyed in order to carry out the goals they had set for themselves.
The Deserted Car
The youngsters raced down the road and entered the deep woods, where they spotted something strange hiding in the distant reaches of the woods. Because of their natural inquisitiveness, they approached the mysterious object and eventually discovered it was an abandoned vehicle.
Source: bles.com
But there was something about that deserted car that gave them the impression that something wasn’t quite right. They could not turn away from the extremely disturbing mood emanating from the scene in front of them.
Ominous Thoughts
The young men were perplexed as to the reason why that car had been parked nearly a mile away from the road–unless the drivers were up to some unusual business.
Source: reddit.com
It seemed weird that it had been arbitrarily placed in such a remote location so far from the highway. The fact that it was evident that something was amiss at the scene piqued the lads’ genuine interest in making additional inquiries into the matter in the first place.
An Intriguing Situation
Both Yanisko and Delvecchio were taken aback when they saw that the car was not only deserted but also stranded on the road when they came closer to it.
Source: videoblocks.com
This made the circumstance even more intriguing, and they felt the impulse to dig further in an attempt to unearth hints about what had transpired and figure out what had taken place. Even though it was starting to grow late outside, the boys made the decision to continue their investigation at the spot.
Further Inspection
After carefully examining the vehicle, the boys were left with a greater degree of skepticism regarding the circumstances. The windows of the vehicle had been broken, and it was wedged on a log.
Source: bles.com
This added a whole new layer of intrigue to the situation. Where exactly did the driver go? Who else might have been in the vehicle with them? What circumstances could have compelled them to get out of the car? The boys quickly found themselves with a desire to find answers to the questions they had.
Seeking a Resolution
After discovering the damage to the car, they were intrigued and eager to find answers to their questions. Of course, this is because they wanted to satisfy their natural curiosity. So they began to search the vehicle’s interior for any hints that may direct them to the person who owned it.
Source: reddit.com
They search the trunk, the area behind the passenger seat, the additional compartments, and the entirety of the interior of the car, looking for any form of identification or scrap of paper that might be useful as a lead.
Where Did This Clue Take Them?
They were able to find a clue that eventually put them on the right track. They discovered a business card belonging to Sam’s Club Retail that listed Edwin Kosik as an employee, and the card bore his name.
Source: littlethings.com
Although this proved to be the most promising lead, the boys still weren’t sure how far they could take their inquiry. Although they had the cardholder’s name, they had no way of knowing whether or not that person was even in the vehicle when the accident occurred.
Searching for the Card Owner on Facebook
In their continued investigation of the details, they became curious about the retail card’s owner. With any luck, this could lead to the discovery of other hints about what took place in the woods.
Source: reddit.com
After inputting the cardholder’s name and clicking the search button, they, without a doubt, discovered significant information on the individual, Edwin Kosik, on Facebook. But would this information enable them to discover what happened to the owner of the abandoned car or the car itself?
The Missing Judge
They were caught off guard when they found numerous articles written about Edwin Kosik on Facebook. He was a 92-year-old man and had served as a federal judge for many years.
Source: reddit.com
When they learned that Edwin Kosik had been missing for two days, they were further taken aback. They were now a part of the probe. They wondered if the car they stumbled upon could be a crucial piece of evidence in a federal investigation. And soon, they would know.
No Trace of Edwin
The additional evidence the lads had obtained confirmed their suspicions that something was off about the scene, but they still didn’t know what. Nonetheless, it is a fact that they were terrified by their new discovery, and as soon as they could, they fled to their houses.
Source: cbsnews.com
After all, they did not know how significant the car was within the overall investigation into the disappearance of Edwin Kosik, and they were unable to find any evidence of the elderly man who went missing in the region.
Their Parents Called the Cops
The lads realized they didn’t have to hide their discovery from their parents, so they went ahead and told them. The children’s parents immediately picked up the phone and placed a call to the authorities, initiating the formal investigation.
Source: reddit.com
In response to police requests, they voluntarily went with officers and drove them to the accident site. However, neither the police nor anybody else was able to detect any sign of the elderly man in the vicinity of the location where the deserted car was found.
Searching the Scene
“I was a little scared,” In April 2017, Yanisko expressed his sentiments to The Times-Tribune, saying, “I didn’t think they’d find him alive.” A massive search team had been established in the hopes of finding the judge in a nearby area.
Source: cbsnews.com
The boys never imagined that the situation could get any worse; this was not something that they had anticipated to occur. The police had even assembled specialized teams, complete with a trained dog, in order to find Kosik or any leads that may direct them to his location.
Resident’s Concerns
Posters of the missing judge had been plastered around town, reflecting the widespread concern of the citizens. Madison Township resident Georgia Fisch expressed her concern, saying, “I’m shocked. I’m very upset because he’s a great man and we don’t want anything happening to him.”
Source: reddit.com
Even strangers cared about Edwin. Edwin’s buddy Georgia Fisch drove through town looking for him. “I’ve gone up the mountain, Aston mountain, checking the back roads and stuff, just seeing if he made a wrong turn somewhere and got lost!” she added.
Unsolved Puzzle
According to the police report, “Communications with the family has revealed that Judge Kosik has taken medication to aid in memory loss.” A possible lead was later delivered to United States marshals. It was verified that a 91-year-old male was perhaps spotted on the Pennsylvania Turnpike traveling to New Jersey.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
The circumstance was now so highly critical that the FBI decided to join the hunt for the judge. They wanted to find him because Kosik was a federal judge in Scranton for over thirty years and a well-respected community member.
A Puzzle Unfolding
One of the leads they identified was a security camera showing Judge Kosik heading into Bill’s ShopRite located in Covington Township. However, the store was closed when the video was captured. The video clip originated from the evening before he vanished without a trace.
Source: reddit.com
After obtaining the data, the police made reports, and then they launched a comprehensive search of the area where Kosik was last seen. As per a reliable source, Judge Kosik was spotted in Scranton around 1:30 in the morning.
Kosik’s Sudden Disappearance
The disappearance of Kosik had shocked the Scranton legal community, and Chris Powell, an attorney who regularly argued cases before Kosik for years, declared, “We want to know what happened to him. And everybody has their opinion, as lawyers, among themselves. I was just over in court this morning and it’s on everybody’s mind.”
Source: reddit.com
The locals, in general, hoped and prayed that Kosik was okay after he was last seen on surveillance camera wearing a blue winter coat and jeans.
A Chopper Search Underway
U.S. Marshall Martin Payne, who spoke with Judge Kosik’s family, said that the investigation into Kosik’s disappearance had turned up new leads but that criminal activity could not be ruled out.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
The police dispatched a helicopter to search the skies above Covington Township for any potential clues. The citizens were politely requested to call 911 at the first sign of anything out of the ordinary. Locals were also urged to contact authorities if they came across Kosik or his vehicle in the days before he suddenly vanished.
Kosik’s Loss of Memory
Concern about his father’s disappearance was prompted by his son’s worry that his father’s loss of memory was to blame. If he went outside in confusion, the weather should be a main consideration.
Source: 6abc.com
As the detectives continued their inquiry, they used all available media outlets to announce that the judge was missing and request that any new information be shared with the public. Kosik’s son was hopeful that the TV coverage of his father’s face would yield some new leads.
At Last, the Judge Was Found
Kosik’s discovery by a police dog after they acquired his track was a relief to his loved ones. The scent of the man was acquired by the search canine, which then directed a group of officers to where the judge was hiding.
Source: cafecrime.com
They found it difficult to believe, but the judge, Kosik, was only a hundred yards from the incident. When the two young men learned that the man had been lurking about the spot where they had located the automobile, they were stumped.
Alive and Well
When Kosik was discovered, he had been found lying on the ground. Although he had been stuck for days in appalling conditions, Kosik could still talk and had even noticed the marshal’s new haircut. Thankfully, he was still able to breathe when they found him.
Source: reddit.com
Everyone was ecstatic to hear that they had located the man who had been reported missing, but everyone was eager to find out what had transpired. What circumstances led Judge Kosik to be by himself in the middle of the forest, resting on the ground?
The Reality
The authorities estimated that the judge had been wandering around for two days before he was found, as stated in a news interview. “I don’t know exactly how long he was in this state for, but it is very possible that he was there the whole time,” the marshall continued.
Source: reddit.com
Kosik was discovered two days after he was last seen wearing the same pants and winter jacket he had on then. This provided evidence that he had lain miserably on the ground for two days in the freezing weather.