Skeletal remains found in Troy renew hope in missing person’s case from 2007 James De La Fuente — NEWS10 ABC

Jaliek was last seen by his adoptive father Stephen Kerr. He told police Jaliek had run off from his family home on Hill Street in Greenwich where he lived with Kerr and his wife Jocelyn McDonald.

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Skeletal remains were found near Burden Pond in Troy, Sunday night. As the police investigation ramps up, some have renewed hope that this may solve a 17-year-old missing person’s case. The Troy Police Department started investigating Sunday evening after someone walking near the pond found skeletal remains. All day today authorities combed the woods for clues, as well as sending officers on boats to investigate the pond. NEWS10 crews watched their work until they cleared the scene around six o’clock, Monday night. This is the same area searched once before for 12-year-old Jaliek Rainwalker who went missing in 2007.

Jaliek was last seen by his adoptive father Stephen Kerr. He told police Jaliek had run off from his family home on Hill Street in Greenwich where he lived with Kerr and his wife Jocelyn McDonald.

The Cambridge-Greenwich Chief of Police at the time, George Bell said Rainwalker’s disappearance was concerning. “Something’s wrong here. The whole thing is weird,” said Bell.

New York State Police labeled this case as a likely homicide in 2012. Law enforcement said the father is a person of interest but both parents have denied any involvement. In light of the latest discovery, NEWS10’s Reporter, James De La Fuente drove out to Jaliek’s adoptive parent’s last known address in Vermont, to check in with the new information. But no one was home. NEWS10 also reached out to the family attorney, Jeffrey E. McMorris who said there was “No comment at this time.”

Washington County District Attorney, Tony Jordan, visited the search scene in Troy on Monday. His office has continued looking into any leads since Jaliek first disappeared. He tells NEWS10’s Reporter, James De La Fuente, there’s “Nothing to say or add until the forensic analysis is complete.”

Jaliek’s adoptive grandmother, Barbara Reeley, is also waiting for that analysis. Police called her to tell her that human skeletal remains had been found in south Troy near where they had searched two years ago. “He would have been found easily if in fact he had been a runaway. But I believe there was foul play and it’s been undetectable until, hopefully now. These remains hopefully, I hate to say, hopefully he’ll be my grandchild,” said Reeley.

District Attorney Jordan said the forensic analysis might be completed by the end of the week, possibly next week.

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