16-04-2025
20-year search for missing district attorney not over yet
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (WTAJ) — It's been 20 years since Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar disappeared and, to this day, not much is known about his disappearance.
Despite a search spanning the last two decades, Gricar has never been found and investigators are still looking for leads.
On April 15, 2005, Gricar was skipped out of work early, and took a drive through the Centre Hall area. It was only months before the D.A. of 20 years was supposed to retire. While on the road, he called his girlfriend, informing her of where he was. This was the last time she — or anyone — reports speaking to Gricar as he never returned home.
Later that night, Gricar was reported missing and the next day, his car and cell phone were found in the parking lot of an antique store in Lewisburg, an hour away, near the Susquehanna River. His county-issued laptop was discovered in the river by fishermen a few months later in July.
Thwarted State College school attack meant to coincide with Columbine anniversary
There's very little evidence to support any theory, giving rise to a plethora of theories about what happened. Many people believe Gricar had been murdered, but some have held out hope that he is still alive and is in hiding.
Back in 2015, 10 years after Gricar disappeared, WTAJ News spoke with Tony De Boef, a former Centre County Assistant District Attorney who worked under Gricar in the 90's.
'He was extremely close to his family, in particular, his daughter. And the fact that he had not communicated with her after he disappeared seemed very, very odd to me,' De Boef said.
There was an ongoing belief by many that Gricar was in hiding, possibly part of the witness protection program, a rumor perpetuated by alleged sightings.
In July 2011, a man in Utah with a shocking resemblance to Gricar was found. He was detained for over three weeks, refusing to tell police who he was. Investigators later identified him as someone else and a few days later, Gricar was officially declared dead. But when WTAJ News spoke with his daughter, Lara Gricar, back in 2011, she said that for her, the case didn't end there.
'My heart always jumps. Still I think when I get a phone call from, you know, one of the family or someone else involved in the case, you know, if it's, if they have that sound in their voice like somethings coming up or something,' Ms. Gricar said.
A search of Gricar's recovered belongings showed no evidence of foul play, leading many to believe Gricar took his own life.
'A lot of that just doesn't make sense. I mean, to me, at the time, I would bet the farm that, you know, he committed suicide,' former Centre County Sheriff Denny Nau told WTAJ News in 2015.
To this day, State Police continue to search for Gricar, never having found his remains.
'Our investigation is ongoing and active and never stops,' said Trooper Jacob Rhymestine, Public Information Officer for Pennsylvania State Police Troop G. 'This case is never closed until we're able to get to a final conclusion to the matter.'
Rhymestine said no matter how small a tip may seem, it could still lead to answers as to where Gricar went. He's asking anyone with information to reach out to State Police. There is still a $5,000 reward for information that leads to solving this case.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
