Darlene Harbison Possibly Found Dead: Police

Darlene Harbison and Eric Gibbs, the person believed to have caused her disappearance

Pennsylvania authorities said Monday they believe they have located a missing woman who disappeared under disturbing circumstances earlier this year. Although a positive identification is pending, The Allegheny County Police Department proposes Human remains found near a motorcycle in a small village belong to a 59-year-old man Darlene Harrisonwho disappeared on September 11, 2022.

A hunter reported finding a motorcycle — whose license plate was registered to Harbison — over a hill along Nichola Road in the Armstrong County township of Worthington, officials said. After state police reported finding human remains nearby, they referred the matter to the coroner’s office, which is handling the formal identification.

Harbison’s family reportedly feared such a discovery for a long time. On October 7, they told reporters at the TV station WPXI that they believed Harbison’s motorcycle might be with her body and staged it to make it appear like an accident.

The license plate was registered to Darlene Harbison. State police responded to the area and located human remains near the motorcycle. County police detectives and the county’s Mobile Crime Unit responded to the area. The remains are taken to the coroner’s office for formal identification.

– Allegheny County PD (@AlleghenyCoPD) December 5, 2022

The 59-year-old was reported missing to police in Frazer Township northeast of Pittsburgh after her daughter was unable to reach her. Cops and her family believe her ex-boyfriend Eric Gibbs, 57, had something to do with her disappearance. He’s not there to reveal his secrets. Gibbs committed suicide and was found dead on September 17.

“Harbison’s daughter made several attempts to contact her mother to no avail, she then applied for a welfare check through the Frazer Township Police Department,” police said. “Detectives from Allegheny County Police, along with Frazer Township Police, began an investigation. The investigation revealed that Harbison was in a volatile relationship with 57-year-old Eric Gibbs. Gibbs is believed to be the person responsible for Harbison’s disappearance. On September 17, 2022, Gibbs was found deceased in West Deer Township after an apparent suicide.”

If it is indeed Harbison’s remains, it will confirm her family’s worst fears.

“When we got this message that [Gibbs] killed himself, our hearts sank because there was no clue from him as to where she is — where her body might be,” Harbison’s brother Bob Ruediger said WPXI in the October 7 report.

“It’s like worse than a nightmare.” Darlene Harbison’s mother and siblings aren’t giving up hope. The Frazer Township woman went missing on September 11. The family searches for her every day and even strangers look for clues. The search widens – details tonight @KDKA. pic.twitter.com/W3EyqUguga

— Jessica Guay (@JessicaGuayTV) October 20, 2022

The missing woman had ordered abuse protection against her ex. In the months leading up to her disappearance, she made a series of harrowing allegations against him.

“He picked me up and pushed me into the hot tub,” she said, according to court documents obtained by WPXI.

She described an incident where she found him in the bedroom with half a gallon of vodka. He held a gun to his chin. Gibbs is also believed to have broken her car window. He would stop her from calling the police by things like waving his gun around or holding it to his chin, Harbison reportedly said in court documents.

That was enough to convince the judge, who wrote, “There is an imminent and present threat of further abuse.”

Gibbs reportedly violated the Abuse Prevention Order in an incident in June. He was arrested on September 9 for allegedly trespassing on Harbison property. Gibbs was reportedly accused of pulling down his pants and exposing himself to police officers in the incident. Officers reportedly took away two rifles, including one with an erased serial number.

From police officers:

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Allegheny County Police hotline at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477); Callers can remain anonymous. The department can also be reached via their social media presence.

[Images via Allegheny County Police Department]

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