MISSINGMAN, CAR FOUND IN RIVER

Tragic end to search: Police confirm body in car was 93-year-old Divers recover vehicle: White Buick was spotted in Schuylkill River

NORTH COVENTRY>> Police have confirmed that a car pulled fromthe Schuylkill River Tuesday contained the body of a 93-year-old man who was reported missing last week in Lower Pottsgrove.

Harold P. Leister, of Lower Pottsgrove, had been missing since last Thursday.

Police were called to South Penn Street and Schuylkill Avenue at around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday after a passerby reported that there was a white vehicle in the water just behind the Pottstown Quoit Club.

“We had a passerby observe the roof of a vehicle in the Schuylkill River,” said North Coventry Police Chief Robert Schurr. “The fire company and North Coventry Police were dispatched. We came out and confirmed that it was in fact a

vehicle in the river and we coordinated with Lower Pottsgrove Police Department because we know that they have a missing person driving a white Buick.”

Authorities sent one diver into the water to check the vehicle before the Phoenixville Dive Team and Sanatoga Auto Body arrived on scene.

After about an hour, the Phoenixville Dive Team arrived with tow trucks to begin pulling the vehicle out. Once out of the water, the white Buick was covered with several pieces of tarp.

Schurr said they had no idea how long the vehicle had been in the river.

Lower Pottsgrove Police were able to confirm that the vehicle belonged to Leister, posting on their Facebook page at around 2:50 p.m.:

“As of approximately 12:30 PM today North Coventry PD located what we believe to be Mr. Leister’s car in the Schuylkill River. We are working with their agency on this development.”

The Chester County Coroner was called to the scene to confirm the identity, which was then reported by police Tuesday evening.

“Lower Pottsgrove Township Police are sad to report that as of approximately 12:30 PM today, North Coventry Police Department responded to a citizen’s report of a car in the Schuylkill River at the boat ramp along S. Penn St. in Pottstown (near the Pottstown Quoit Club). Unfortunately, the investigation confirmed the car contained the body of Harry Leister,” read a press release from Lower Pottsgrove Police.

“Lower Pottsgrove Township Police and the family of Mr. Leister are grateful for the outpouring of support by the community with their tips during the investigation.”

Leister, 93, of West Woodland Drive, went missing fromhis home and was last seen on Feb. 4 at 7 a.m. Leister’s vehicle, a white 2011 Buick Lucerne with Pennsylvania tags, was also missing from his home.

According to police, Leister had no known medical conditions but an investigation revealed that he had fallen and struck his head on Feb. 3, suffering a significant head injury. Leister was checked by a neighbor, but refused medical attention, police said.

At the scene Tuesday along with North Coventry Police and Lower Pottsgrove Police were the Phoenixville Dive Rescue Team, Linfield Fire Company, West Pottsgrove Police and North Coventry Fire Department.

North Coventry Police, Lower Pottsgrove Police and the Chester County Coroner are conducting a joint investigation.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA North Coventry police and members of the Phoenixville Dive Team check a car that was found in the Schuylkill River just off the South Penn Street boat ramp in North Coventry Tuesday afternoon.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A diver fromPhoenixville Dive Team checks a car whichwas found in the Schuylkill River just off the South Penn Street boat ramp in North Coventry Tuesday afternoon.

TOM KELLY — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA North Coventry police officer Tom Barton waits for a dive rescue team to arrive at the Schuylkill River boat ramp where a missing 93-year- old man’s car was found in the river Tuesday afternoon.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Crews hold tarps to shield the public from viewing a car as it is winched out of the Schuylkill River just off the South Penn Street boat ramp in North Coventry Tuesday afternoon.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA North Coventry police investigate vehicle found in the Schuylkill River just off the South Penn Street boat ramp in North Coventry Tuesday afternoon.