Human Remains Found in Troy, NY

It's been a rollercoaster week in Upstate New York regarding the disappearance of Jaliek Rainwalker, and on Wednesday, there was some unfortunate news.

On Monday, Troy PD said that they were investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains found Sunday evening in a wooded area near the Burden Pond/Burden Falls in South Troy, and many in the Capital Region hoped this may solve the Rainwalker cold case, now in its 17th year.

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

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.

Area in Troy where human remains were discovered on Sunday night. Photo: Google Maps
Area in Troy where human remains were discovered on Sunday night. Photo: Google Maps
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The Remains Were Not from Jaliek Rainwalker

On Wednesday, police told reporters that the human remains found were not that of Jaliek Rainwalker, the 12-year-old boy from Greenwich, New York, located in Washington County, who went missing back in November of 2007.

Here's what the Troy Police said in a statement on Wednesday:

"Given the circumstances surrounding the discovery a dental comparison was conducted today to determine whether the remains were consistent with Jaliek Rainwalker. The result of that analysis has concluded the remains are not Jaliek Rainwalker. The previously scheduled further analysis of the entire skeletal remains is scheduled to occur next week. At that time we hope to have more information regarding the potential gender, age and/or identity of the remains."

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Jaliek Rainwalker went missing 17 years ago in Greenwich, NY, and this has been a Capital Region cold case ever since. Photo: Facebook
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Who Do The Remains Belong To?

Unfortunately, while not Rainwalker's, many in the Capital Region wonder who the remains belong to, opening up a litany of questions after the grisly find.

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.

Troy police found human remains in a wooded area near Burden Pond in Troy on Sunday.  Photo: Google Maps
Troy police found human remains in a wooded area near Burden Pond in Troy on Sunday.  Photo: Google Maps
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 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

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