SWISSDALE - State police say a Woodward Township man died from a bear attack.
The state Game Commission, however, disagrees, believing that Gary Lininger died of injuries caused when a tree fell on him.
Lininger, 62, died on Oct. 16, according to the Clinton County coroner.
His body was found four days later outside his secluded mountain home along Tedrow Lane, just off Coudersport Pike (Route 664) above the village of Swissdale and some eight miles north of Lock Haven.
Coroner Donald G. Walker said the death was not suspicious, but he ordered an autopsy to determine the cause because of the uncertain circumstances surrounding Lininger's passing.
Walker declined any comment on the case other than saying the death was accidental.
But his finding prompted an immediate investigation by state police at Lamar and the state Game Commission.
Trooper Matthew R. McDermott, who headed the probe, released his final report Tuesday afternoon, saying that, while Lininger's death was accidental, "a bear attacked the victim."
See Wednesday's print edition of The Express for a complete story, including why the Game Commission came to its conclusion following the investigation, and words of advice when confronting a black bear in Pennsylvania.
