Missing Penn State professor pushed to his death at quarry

A missing Penn State professor has been found dead, and a Pennsylvania Furnace man has been charged with his murder, Pennsylvania State Police at Rockview announced on Friday afternoon.

A joint investigation by state police and State College Police found that Ishler allegedly “drove [Bettig] to the quarry under a ruse”. Police found his auto two days later in Potter Township, Centre County.

The case of a missing Penn State professor is now a homicide investigation. State police searched the area and found Bettig’s body in a quarry. He died from the 80-foot fall. Ishler later staged the scene with items – including water bottles, a flashlight, a small hand rake and a bag – that were removed from Bettig’s residence, the affidavit said.

Police charged Ishler with murder in the first degree, murder in the third degree, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence. No attorney information is listed online. He was denied bail by Magisterial District Judge Thomas Jordan.

His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 31st at the Bellefonte Courthouse.

It was Ishler, who police say, first reported that Ronald Bettig went missing.

Bettig has been a media studies professor at Penn State since 1988, according to the State College school’s website.