Coroner Confirms Body Found Sunday is Missing Vet
Janice Rubendall's father was told by police that a body found in the Schuylkill River on Sunday afternoon is believed to be that of the missing Iraq war vet. The coroner's office confirmed the identification on Monday evening.
Update: (5 p.m.) County Coroner Walter I. Hofman has confirmed to The Times Herald that the body retrieved from the Schuykill River on Sunday afternoon is that of Janice Rubendall. Rubendall's body was reportedly identified by its tattoos.
Update: On Monday morning, March 5, West Norriton Police Chief Robert Adams told Patch that he could not officially confirm the identity of the body found yesterday in the Schuylkill River. According to Chief Adams, First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele will release the information following an autopsy by the coroner.
More information is expected later today.
Original story below.
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A body found along the bank of the Schuylkill River on Sunday afternoon has been tentatively identified as Janice Rubendall, the former U.S Marine whose car was found abandoned near the Betzwood Bridge in early January.
Robert Rubendall, Janice's father, said Sunday evening that Lower Providence Township Police had visited him at his home to tell him of the discovery.
A resident of the Port Indian neighborhood in West Norriton discovered the body "wedged between a boat dock and the shoreline," Rubendall said. "They're pretty sure it's her."
The location is about three-quarters of a mile downstream from the Betzwood Bridge that carries Route 422 over the Schuylkill River. Janice Rubendall was known to frequent the area underneath the bridge.
"Searchers never would have found her" in the place where the body was recovered, Rubendall said.
The body was taken to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office, which Rubendall said is expected to confirm the identification on Monday.
Rubendall expressed his thanks for the assistance of the Lower Providence Police Department and the Valley Forge National Park Rangers, both of whom he said "went above and beyond" in their efforts to help locate his daughter.
"I kept hoping, but the thing that kept sticking in my mind was her car," Rubendall said. "She never would have left her car there."
Michelle Wolfson
7:54 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
That is very sad. I hope for peace for her family.
Joel Snyder
8:30 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Prayers and condolences to the family in this most difficult of times...
Marylou Sands
9:42 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Rip Janice.
Aylene Leas
10:53 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
My condolences to the family in this terrible time. May she rest peacefully in the hands of the lord.
Jessica Ashley Iannucci-Roybal
11:40 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
My dear friend I some how hope and pray that is not you. You were like a sister to me all through boot camp and our marine corps days. I love you RIP "Ruby"
Korinne Cheeks
10:02 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
R.I.P Janice....may you be at peace now. I send my condolences out to the Rubendall family, friends, and extended Marine Corps family & friends. I will keep you all in my prayers as I know this is a difficult time.
Marcella A. McNabb
11:26 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
So heartbreaking, my deepest condolences to her family, her friends and her fellow soldiers.
Virginia Rueber
3:49 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Sorry for the sad ending to Janice's life. Thanking her family for allowing Janice t serve in the Marines, unfortunate that she had problems returning home to peace time. Janice RIP sister.
Virginia Rueber, Woman Marine.
Sally Eaton
4:04 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Our family would like to thank everyone involved in helping to find Janice Rubendall!! All the Friends and Strangers that helped with the Flyers and the Distributing the flyers to help us to find our little Marine!! I would like to thank the W. Norriton person who found our lost little Angel!! I would also like to say thanks to the entire Search Team boaters and Search Dogs that helped us to find Janice!! Thanks so much! Our family SAYS THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTOM OF OUR HEARTS!!!
George
8:11 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
R.I.P. Janice.
We will not forget you. Living in our community for the first 15 yrs of your life
.We send our condolences and prayers to the Rubendall family.
want to Thank you for what you did for your country.
The Guest Family
Marylou Sands
12:05 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
There is a facebook memorial page for her, put "Janice Rubendall Memorial " in the search bar to see and join and leave your memory of Janice.
Ryan Schepis
9:57 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
My heart goes out to the family of LCpl Janice Rubendall. She will be missed. I had the pleasure of being one of her leaders while she was in the Marine Corps. To this day she is still one of my best Marines to have served with. I cant express my sarrow in this situation. Rest in Peace "short round".
Murphy Heffelfinger
12:52 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Prayers And Thought go out to the family......R.I.P.JAnice. No more PAin.An Angel looking down.