Remains Found in Upstate New York Woods Could Solve Cold Case

Human Remains Found in Troy, NY

Police in Upstate New York say they found human remains after they responded to a report that someone had discovered bones while out on a walk. This is an ongoing investigation; if we get any further information, we'll pass it along.

Troy PD announced on Monday that they are investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains found Sunday evening in a wooded area near the Burden Pond/Burden Falls in South Troy.

While the investigation is still in its early stages, reports suggest that police contacted a Capital Region family, telling them the finding could be linked to a 17-year-old cold case.

Could it be the Remains of Jaliek Rainwalker?

Police have been careful about saying who the remains may belong to. Still, there has been speculation that it could be the remains of Jaliek Rainwalker, the 12-year-old boy from Greenwich, New York, located in Washington County, who went missing back in November of 2007.

According to a report by the Times Union, Barbara Reeley, Jaliek's adoptive grandmother, said a Troy police official called her Monday morning to say human remains were found.

The TU report states that police had not made any determination about who the remains belonged to; however, they were discovered in an area previously searched by police in their ongoing efforts to bring closure to Rainwalker's disappearance.

 No Known Danger to the Capital Region

Despite the unsettling find, Troy Police stated that there is no known danger to the community and that a police presence will remain at the scene while the work continues.

We'll have more on this story as it unfolds.

In the meantime, if you have any information about the discovery, you’re urged to call TPD Detectives at (518) 270-4421 or report online at troypd.org