Police: Body found in Plum identified as Whitehall woman missing for a year

Nearly a year after she was reported missing, Elizabeth Wiesenfeld’s remains were found Sunday, Allegheny County police said.

Wiesenfeld, 67, of Whitehall, had been missing since April 30, 2019.

In September, Douglas Berry, 48, was charged with homicide in connection with her death, but authorities had been proceeding with the case without finding her remains. Berry also is charged with burglary, access device fraud, receiving stolen property and two counts of theft.

The case changed Sunday morning, when a Plum police officer found a garbage bag with what appeared to be a shoe visible inside at a dump site along 200 Repp Road, Allegheny County police said.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office will release the cause and manner of Wiesenfeld’s death, police said.

Berry was charged after he told other Allegheny County Jail inmates that he killed Wiesenfeld and planned to use sulfuric acid to dispose of the remains, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.

Between 2015 and 2018, Berry did work for Wiesenfeld, a widow who lived in a well-kept home along East Barlind Drive in Whitehall.

Wiesenfeld stopped employing Berry because he made her feel uncomfortable, an unnamed witness told police, according to the complaint.

Authorities tracked Berry’s location on April 30, 2019, through cellphone records, license plate readers and surveillance video from Wiesenfeld’s home and at other locations, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said when he announced charges against Berry.

“Substantial evidence was developed in this matter,” Zappala said at the time.

What authorities lacked was a body.

Now that Wiesenfeld has been found, it “certainly strengthens” the case against Berry, Zappala spokesman Mike Manko said in a statement.

“District Attorney Zappala would like to acknowledge the work of the Allegheny County Police, Whitehall Borough Police and Plum Borough Police along with others who have contributed to this investigation,” Manko said. “Finding the remains of Elizabeth is important for her family and we will be assisting them as this case proceeds to trial.”

Police continue to seek tips about the case. People with information are asked to call 1-833-255-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.