Human remains found in illegal dump belong to Elizabeth Wiesenfeld

PLUM, Pa. — County police said human remains found in a garbage bag in an illegal dump near Plum are the remains of Elizabeth Wiesenfeld.

Wiesenfeld was reported missing on April 30, 2019 to the Whitehall Police Department.

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Around 10:20 a.m. Sunday, a Plum police officer patrolling the area found a garbage bag with what appeared to be a shoe visible from a tear in the bag.

The remains were identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office Monday as belonging to the missing 67-year-old Wiesenfeld. The investigation into her disappearance led to the arrest of 47-year-old Douglas Berry for Criminal Homicide.

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Police found blood in Wiesenfeld’s bed and then learned a person in a mask used her debit card at a PNC Bank branch in Whitehall. The masked person is believed to have been Berry. He was a handyman employed by Wiesenfeld to take care of several properties. Using surveillance cameras, license plate readers and cellphone towers, investigators were able to track most of his movements on the day in question.

“He was there looking for money. Did he intend to hurt her much less take her life? I don’t know that," District Attorney Stephen Zappala said in September.

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Berry was originally arrested on weapons charges after police found a gun during a search of his home.

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