The man whose smoldering Nov. 1 along Applewood Road in South Whitehall Township near the Upper Macungie Township line has been identified as Joshua James Rubin, a 30-year-old cafe owner in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin and Lehigh County Coroner Scott M. Grim released the identity this afternoon (Dec. 21) in a release. A family member had reported Rubin missing at 9 p.m. on Oct. 31 to the New York Police Department.

Rubin, who lived at 100 Lawrence Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y., operated the Whisk Café at 1119 Newkirk Ave. in Brooklyn, authorities said. Grim said that Rubin was identified through DNA testing.

The Lehigh County District Attorney's Office and coroner had released of the man a month ago as they sought the public's help in identifying him. The body had been found about 8:30 a.m. along Applewood Drive, on a bend in the road between Huckleberry and Haasadahl roads, by a South Whitehall public works employee who was cleaning up tree branches after a weekend snowstorm.

He had been shot to death and the body set on fire, authorities have said. The coroner

Martin said that Rubin's family has been notified of the identification.