The search, in its second month, has wound down to leads that investigating officer Ron Schall of Spring Township police described as “slim” and “far-fetched.”

Police are following smaller leads, such as old or casual acquaintances, but Schall emphasized that the investigation has not ended.

“We are still out there talking to people,” he said.

Condon was reported missing to police the evening of Feb. 27, but the search did not begin until March 2, Schall said.

Condon was scheduled to pick up her two children in Clearfield March 2 for visitation. When she failed to arrive, police began the search.

“That was more or less the turning point,” Schall said.

Greg Palazzari, Condon’s boyfriend of two years, also of 1959 Harvest Circle, said Condon was close to her children and would not miss visitation.

The first week of the investigation was intense, employing a helicopter and tracking dog to search the area surrounding the tavern, but no leads turned up, Schall said.

Police do not know if foul play was involved in the disappearance, but Schall said he has not ruled it out.

Palazarri said he is certain Condon was a victim of foul play because Condon would not leave her friends and family without saying anything.

Palazzari said there was nothing unusual about the afternoon before Condon disappeared, which was the last time he talked to her, he said.

They were making dinner plans to celebrate their birthdays that weekend, he said. Condon’s birthday was March 1 and his was March 2.

“She would never miss a holiday,” Palazzari said, referring to both the birthdays and Easter.

“She was definitely taken unwillingly out of there,” Palazarri said.

Police said they believe Condon disappeared at about 1:30 or 2 a.m. She was last seen inside the bar serving a customer at about 1:15 a.m., police said.

Police said Condon apparently closed the bar for the night. The receipts were put away and the lights were turned off but the front door was not locked, police said.

The bar was not vandalized and nothing was reported taken, police said. However, Condon’s boots were found in the men’s restroom.

“They were stuck together as if they were placed there by someone,” Schall said.

Condon’s car, a grey 1986 Mercury Capri, was left in the tavern lot, police said.

Palazzari said he believes Condon’s disappearance is connected to her work at the bar. He said he believes a disgruntled patron who would not take no for an answer may have kidnapped her.

But tavern owner Carl Easterling said police never said the disappearance was connected to a customer.

No matter what the scenario, Palazarri said he cannot make sense of it.

“I can’t understand it . . . I don’t know if I ever will,” Palazarri said.

“All we can do is pray and hope something good comes of it.”

With the publicity and flyers posted in the area, someone would have seen or said something in Condon was in Centre County, Palazzari said.

Palazzari said he does not understand why the FBI has not aided in the investigaiton.

Jack Shea, supervisor of the State College FBI office, said the agency could not get involved in Condon’s disappearance because it did not fall within their jurisdiction.

Interstate transport of a victim has to be proven or implied through a ransom note or another sign of kidnapping before a federal agency can investigate, Shea said.

“At this point, at least, it doesn’t seem to be in federal jurisdiction,” he said.

While the local police agencies, mainly Spring Township and Rockview state police, conduct their search, Palazzari and Condon’s family continue their own.

Palazarri said he has spent the last month on the telephone talking to friends across the country, including some who are private investigators.

Condon’s aunt owns a trucking business in Clearfield, where Condon used to live, and gives her truck drivers fliers noting that Condon is missing to post on their east coast routes, Palazarri added.

However, neither the phone calls nor the posters have led to anything concrete.

“It’s almost a waiting game . . . sooner or later, something’s going to come out,” Palazarri said.

Condon is described as white, 5 feet 3½ inches tall and 110 pounds. She has reddish-brown hair with light blue eyes but wears green contacts. Condon has a ring of roses tattooed on her right ankle.

Anyone with information about Condon or the disappearance is asked to call the Bellefonte dispatch center at 355-5441 or Rockview state police at 863-4646.

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/crime_courts/story/1472603.html

CDT/Christopher Weddle

A police car blocks the entrance to the Sunoco gas station at University Drive and Bellaire Avenue on Friday, August 21, 2009. CDT/Christopher Weddle

 

“This is a significant investigation, a significant amount of cocaine,” said District Attorney Michael Madeira. He said police seized a pound of cocaine in making the arrests.

Police are still searching for Mario Rincon, who they say is Palazzari’s dealer, and brought four to eight ounces of cocaine into State College bi-weekly.

Police said that when they went to arrest him today, he fled his Elmwood Avenue house in a car. Police stopped chasing him for safety reasons when he reached speeds of 130 mph.

Madeira said police all over the state are looking for him tonight as Palazzari and another man are being booked at the county jail.

Rincon is from New York. Madeira said he didn’t have a job here, other than selling cocaine.

This arrest was the result of a two-month investigation by the local drug task force but police say they have information that Rincon and Palazzari were providing the area with cocaine for several years.

The Attorney Generals office is working on a forfeiture of property related to the bust. For more details, see Saturday’s Centre Daily Times.

Ms. Condon was last seen during the early morning hours of Feb. 27, 1991, at what was then known as Carl’s Bad Tavern, currently the location of Home Delivery Pizza, where she was working as a bartender.

Employees found the bar unoccupied the following day, and Ms. Condon’s car was in the parking lot. A pair of cowboy boots believed to be hers was found in the men’s restroom, but she was nowhere to be found.

Spring Township Police Department initiated the investigation upon notification of the disappearance in 1991. Police retained primary jurisdiction over the investigation until 1997, at which time they requested state police assume primary jurisdiction.

Troopers actively continue to investigate the disappearance. Numerous leads have been followed up throughout the ensuing 18-year investigation and are continuing to be investigated, but to date, the whereabouts of Ms. Condon is still unknown.

To view information on the investigation, visit the state police Web site at http://www.psp.state.pa.us, click on “Troop/Station Information,” “Troop G – Hollidaysburg,” then “Investigations.”

Police continue to request that anyone with information about the disappearance contact them at 355-7545. Anyone with information who wishes to remain anonymous may contact Centre County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-99CRIME or by calling Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4-PA-TIPS.

Ms. Condon is a white female and was born March 1, 1962. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as standing 5 feet, 3 1/2 inches tall, and weighing 110 pounds.

She wore her reddish-brown hair shoulder length and had a tattoo of a ring of roses on her right ankle. Her eyes are light blue, but she wore light green contacts.

The next morning, employees found the bar unlocked. A pair of cowboy boots, thought to be Condon’s, were found in the men’s room, police said.

Condon’s vehicle was found in the parking lot, and the bar, which is now the location of Home Delivery Pizza on state Route 550, appeared undisturbed, police said.

Throughout the ensuing investigation, leads have been followed, but to this date police say they don’t know where Condon is.

Condon is a white female, about 5-feet 3-inches, 110 pounds, with reddish-brown hair, light blue eyes, green contacts, and a tattoo of a ring of roses on her right ankle.

Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at Rockview at 355-7545. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crimestoppers at 1-877-99CRIME.

For more information, check the state police Web site at http://www.psp.state.pa.us., and click on “Troop/Station Information,” “Troop G – Hollidaysburg,” then “Investigations.”

Sara Ganim can be reached at 231-4616.

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/1143977.html

But the autopsy on Brungart, which was done at the Smithsonian Institute of Forensic Anthropology in Washington, D.C., indicated no evidence of foul play in her death, Rockview State Police Trooper Sally Brown said.

Police must now wait for the results of tests done on Brungart’s clothing, Brown said. The test results were due back a month ago from the Harrisburg State Police Crime Lab.

The tests search for trace evidence or other signs that could indicate if foul play was involved in the case, Brown said.

Brown is unsure whether the tests will find anything.

She said she considers Brungart’s death to be more unique than suspicious because there was no evidence of foul play in the area where the body was found and her disappearance was not reported immediately.

“It’s strange for a person to go out and die of natural causes,” Brown said. “But she was not really considered to be physically fit, and she suffered from blood clots and blackouts.”

Brungart disappeared on the morning of June 10, 1991, after she had an argument with her husband on state Route 64 and walked away from him. The two were delivering newspapers at the time.

No one reported seeing Brungart after that, Pelipesky said.

Two other women reported missing — Katherine Heckel and Brenda Condon — have not been found.

Heckel of Mill Hall disappeared during her lunch break on July 15, 1991. She was working at the International Paper Co.’s Hammermill Plant in Lock Haven at the time.

There are no suspects and no leads in her disappearance, said Sgt. Daniel Wilt of the Lock Haven State Police.

Condon disappeared on Feb. 27, 1991, from Carl’s Bad Tavern in Spring Township where she was working. Her car was left in the bar’s parking lot and her boots were found in the men’s restroom.

There are no suspects or leads in Condon’s disappearance, Pelipesky said.