CLARION – Forest County Coroner Norman J. Wimer ruled Friday
that the cause of death of Patrick Winslow Ryan, 30 was “a
combination of drug and alcohol overdose.”

Ryan, a Coudersport native, went missing for nine days from
August 14 to August 23 until his remains were found in a remote
area of Forest County. His body was discovered by a passerby near a
pull-off in a wooded area of Howe Township.

He had been living in Clarion Borough at the time and was
reported missing on Aug. 18.

“While the cause of death is now known,” stated Wimer in a press
release. “We still do not know the manner of death and it will
officially be recorded as undetermined.”

The manner of death, Wimer explained further, could be homicide,
accident, suicide or undetermined.

“At this point in the investigation, while we have positively
confirmed through toxicology results the cause of death, I simply
do not know the manner and therefore have ruled it to be
undetermined,” said Wimer.

Wimer said that the Pennsylvania State Police and the Clarion
Borough Police will continue their investigation regarding the
disappearance of Ryan, his death, and how his remains came to be
located in Forest County.

In August, the Clarion Borough Police Chief reported a task
force had been developed to investigate the death of Ryan. A
representative at the borough department directed a reporter to the
Clarion or Tionesta State Police departments as they had “taken
over the investigation.”

When contacted, a Tionesta-based State Police representative
directed a reporter to the Punxsutawney barracks; there, a
spokesman said they know nothing about the case and they wouldn’t
have handled it. There was no answer at the State Police barracks
in Clarion.

Also in August, authorities revealed the last time anyone saw
Ryan alive was in the early morning hours of Aug. 14 at a bar
called the Captain Loomis Inn.

Employees at the tavern confirmed Ryan stopped in alone late
Saturday night or early Sunday morning and stayed until the bar
closed. The patrons there, including Ryan, were invited to a
private after-hours party, but authorities said then that there was
no indication that Ryan had actually gone to the party.

Employees at the bar also said a young man approached Ryan and
the two had a “minor disagreement” but that Ryan moved down the bar
away from the other man, and there was no further incident.

At the time before his disappearance, Ryan had just accepted a
teaching position at Bucks County Community College and was set to
move to New Jersey to live with his girlfriend. He never arrived
Aug. 15 as planned.

His body was found 35 miles outside of Clarion.

“One thing that we are certain of,” added Wimer. “Someone knows
what happened to Patrick, and on behalf of his family, I hope that
this individual, or individuals, will come forward to tell the
story.

“No family should ever have to go through what the Ryan family
is going through, especially when the fact is others know, at least
in part, what happened,” continued Wimer. “I am urging anyone with
any information please contact either the Pennsylvania State Police
of Clarion or the Clarion Borough Police. Regardless of the
circumstance, it is the right thing to do.”

Because of the ongoing investigation, the details of the drug
analysis and the type of drug involved will not be released by the
coroner’s office.

Ryan is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Peter Ryan of Coudersport.

He had attended Clarion University and the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford. He worked at the Clarion News and had
worked at WESB radio in Bradford.