A Pennsylvania State University associate professor who was reported missing last week has been found dead.
Police say Ronald Bettig, 56, of Lemont was pushed off an 80-foot ledge at a Centre County quarry.
Authorities found his body in the quarry, located just off Rimmey Road in Potter Township on Aug. 17th.
Authorities say Bettig drove to the quarry under a ruse posed by George Ishler Jr., 39, of Pennsylvania Furnance, who has been charged with Bettig’s murder.
Ishler told Bettig to meet him and a woman, Danelle Geier, at the quarry so that they could harvest marijuana plants growing there. Geier was living with Bettig.
According to the criminal complaint, Ishler told police he and Geier were friends of Bettig’s. Police say Ishler and Geier are “know drug users.”
The pair reported Bettig missing after returning home from a trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware that they went on with Bettig. Police say they waited three days before making the report.
Ishler stated that he did not like the way Bettig treated Geier while they were at the beach, saying Bettig was “ignorant” to Geier and was upset about how she was raising her child. He also said Ishler grabbed Geier’s arm and left a mark on it.
Ishler told police he had previous arguments with Bettig about Bettig’s relationship with Geier.
According to the criminal complaint, Ishler had a copy of Bettig’s “Last Will of Testament” at his home, which had been recently renewed and resigned. Ishler told police there was a possibility of financial gain for both Ishler and Geier.
Ishler also told police he first planned with Geier to drown Bettig in the ocean at Rehoboth Beach.
Ishler is currently in Centre County prison.
