Missing federal judge is found alive in wooded area after teens discover his car nearby
Judge Edwin Kosik. Photo from Pennsylvania State Police Twitter account.
A missing federal judge was found alive in a wooded area in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, Thursday evening after an intensive search by the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI and state police.
Judge Edwin Kosik, 91, was discovered after two teens told police they found Kosik’s Acura in the wooded area and saw the judge’s ID inside, report the Times Leader, the Times-Tribune, the Citizens’ Voice and the Associated Press. A police dog was able to locate Kosik, who was about 100 feet from the car.
“At the time, he was awake, he was aware, however he was prone [on his back] out on the ground,” U.S. Marshal Martin Pane said at a press conference covered by several publications. “I would classify him as being aware of us being around him.”
Pane said the judge recognized him and commented that he had gotten a haircut.
Kosik, a judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, takes medication for mild memory loss and had stopped hearing cases last month. He had been reported missing Wednesday afternoon. He was known for presiding in the corruption prosecution of two Pennsylvania judges in the “kids for cash” case. Kosik rejected the initial plea deals and later sentenced the judges to prison terms of 28 years and 17½ years.
Kosik was taken to the hospital. Pane did not say whether the judge had any injuries. “We’re hopeful he will have a full recovery,” he said.
Pane said the area where Kosik was found is being treated as a crime scene.
