'No one should die alone': Details are scant in life, death of Isaias Hernandez-Geronimo

Obscure and desolate is what can be said about the unexplained life and undetermined death of Isaias Hernandez-Geronimo.

As Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Janine Darby alluded to at a press conference Tuesday morning, Hernandez-Geronimo, 34, whose background and history remain largely unknown, died and decomposed alone in a bleak basin in Towamencin Township for two years.

“No one should die alone,” Darby said, holding back tears. “Today … we are able to identify a person that died alone and provide closure to the family.”

Authorities knew little of Hernandez-Geronimo before his demise, which is surmised as accidental or natural. His family is mum on Hernandez-Geronimo’s country of origin and his medical conditions.

He, his wife and his children, resided in the Hatfield area for a short period of time – only three to four months – before he went missing. Darby would not elaborate on why no missing persons report was issued, citing privacy of the family.

Enter a big technological break in such a meticulous case – DNA. However, DNA would give investigators just the littlest amount necessary to make a familial connection.

Scant DNA was found on the skeletal remains. Hernandez-Geronimo’s skull was first discovered in a desolate location by a surveyor in March 2024, off Grist Mill Drive in the Grist Mill neighborhood on Welsh Road, sparking an intense search for answers.

    Press conference at Montgomery County Coroner's Office.
 By James Short   

"It is very difficult when you don’t have fluid on a body to collect tissue and analyze that (for DNA)," Darby said.

Luckily, that little bit of DNA led them to a brother, Jeremea Hernandez. Darby also confirmed identification was found on Hernandez-Geronimo’s remains, along with tattered clothing and a phone.

“Identifying skeletal remains is a meticulous process involving forensic anthropology, dental records (if available), DNA analysis, and other investigative techniques,” Darby said at Tuesday’s press conference outside the coroner’s office in Lower Providence Township. “I cannot comment further as to why a missing person report was not put out there. "

 County authorities have also ruled out foul play.

“Based on forensic identification and the investigation, we can say it wasn’t foul play,” Darby said. “Based on what we found and based on talking to the family, it’s been two years.”

The cause and manner of death remain undetermined.

“The expeditious nature of identifying the decedent was due to prompt action taken by several teams and cooperative engagement across agencies,” Darby said.

Darby thanked her Coroner’s Office team, led by First Deputy Coroner Casey McAlpine; Chief Timothy Troxel, Officer Michael McCarrick, and Sergeant Paul Wiechec of Towamencin Township Police Department; forensic specialists Dr. Ian Hood, Dr. Anna Delaney, and Dr. John Nase; and Guardian Forensic Lab members Arthur Young and Katherine Cross.

    Isaias Hernandez-Geronimo, 34.
 By James Short   

“We'd also like to thank the decedent's family for their patience and cooperation in helping piece together the information to help identify Isaias Hernandez-Geronimo,” Darby said. “We ask that the media and public respect the privacy of Isaias's family as they continue to process this news and grieve the loss of their loved one.”

Jeremea spoke at the end of the press conference about his brother, answering all questions in Spanish, with no translation for media.

“"He was a good person. He'd liked to work. He wanted to make a name for himself, but it was not his destiny," said his brother.

Darby told The Inquirer that her lab has a few other unidentified remains.

“So that’s why we’re feeling a sense of gratification that we did something,” she said.

Read more on the initial investigation here.