An autopsy shows that a hunter whose body was found Wednesday on the grounds of a Boy Scouts reservation in Pine Hill, New Jersey, died of multiple stab wounds, as well as a beating.
The autopsy was conducted Thursday, according to the Camden County prosecutor’s office, which is investigating the homicide with Pine Hill police.
The victim was identified as Joseph Bottino, 54, of Gloucester Township, New Jersey. Authorities say Bottino left home Wednesday and never returned. His body was discovered about 6:30 p.m. Eastern time on Watsontown-New Freedom Road in Pine Hill.
A medical examiner who performed the autopsy determined the death was a homicide based on the injuries.
Family members told detectives Bottino was in the area to hunt. They said he had hunted in the location often.
The reservation, owned by the Boy Scouts of America Garden State Council, is a wooded camping facility for scouts, the closest to Philadelphia.
Anyone with information on the homicide can call the Camden County prosecutor’s office Detective Jeremy Jankowski at (856) 397-3485 or Pine Hill Police Sgt. John Field at (856) 783-1589. Tips can also be emailed to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.
