Missing Woman Found Dead Months After Her Abusive Ex-boyfriend Killed Self: Cops

A Pennsylvania woman has been found dead over a hillside in a small village in Armstrong County nearly three months after she disappeared.

The human remains, believed to be that of Darlene Harbison, were discovered after a hunter found a motorcycle registered to her name in the area, Allegheny County Police Department said in a news release Monday.

The remains were sent to the medical examiner's office for formal identification, police said. They have not revealed the cause of death or any other details regarding Harbison's death.

Harbison's boyfriend, Eric Gibbs, was a suspect in her disappearance. He killed himself days after the 59-year-old went missing on Sept. 11, news outlet Law & Crime reported.

The investigation began after Harbison's daughter requested a welfare check after she could not get in touch with her mother.

Police learned Harbison was in a volatile relationship with her 57-year-old boyfriend. However, before cops could determine how he was involved in the woman's missing case, Gibbs died in an apparent suicide on Sept. 17.

Harbison had received a protection order issued against Gibbs after he allegedly abused her several times during the months leading to her missing.

"He has picked me up and held me down in the hot tub," Harbison said in her complaint against Gibbs, reported WPXI.

Gibbs, however, violated the protection order and was arrested for allegedly trespassing on Harbison's property on Sept. 9. During the arrest, he allegedly pulled down his pants and exposed himself to cops. Officers confiscated two rifles from him at the time, reports said.

Anyone with information concerning Harbison's death can call the Allegheny County Police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477) or contact officials through the police department's social media sites. Callers can remain anonymous.