Location: Village of Greenwich, Washington County, New York, USA

Date of Disappearance: November 1–2, 2007

Status: Missing, presumed homicide (since December 2012) 

Early Life and Family Context

Jaliek Rainwalker was born on August 2, 1995 with distinctive green eyes. He endured a difficult early childhood: born to a mother with substance abuse issues (alcohol and cocaine exposure in utero) and spent years in foster care, living in multiple homes. 

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In 2003, Jaliek was adopted by Stephen Kerr and Jocelyn McDonald and moved to a rural property in the village of Greenwich in Washington County, New York.

His adoptive home was described as unconventional: the house lacked running water, had outhouse sanitation, one room sleeping area, and limited electricity via generator. 

Jaliek had been diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, a condition affecting children who have difficulty forming stable emotional bonds due to early trauma. 

He was reported to have behavioral issues (tantrums, aggression) and had been in respite care just days before his disappearance. 

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Last Known Movements & The Day He Disappeared

November 1, 2007 (Thursday):

Jaliek spent the day in respite care at the home of licensed foster parents Elaine Person and Tom Person. He had been there for six days. Late that evening, he was returned to Stephen Kerr in Greenwich.

November 2, 2007 (Friday):

At approximately 7:30 a.m., Kerr reported finding a note allegedly written by Jaliek:

“Dear everybody, I’m sorry for everything. I won’t be a bother anymore. Goodbye, Jaliek.” 

Kerr reported Jaliek missing at 8:57 a.m. 

The property on Hill Street in Greenwich was searched extensively. Jaliek had not been seen since the prior night. He had little cash or personal items with him. 

Important details:

* The house was owned by Kerr’s father; children frequently stayed there. 

* On the night before, Kerr had called a crisis hotline saying his adoptive son was “unmanageable.” 

* Police have said it is unlikely Jaliek ran away or survived alone given his age and background; by December 2012 the case was reclassified as a probable homicide. 

Key Evidence & Investigative Timeline

2007–2008: Early Investigation

* Searches of woods, golf courses, the Battenkill River region, and other remote sites near Greenwich. 

* CCTV footage captured a small yellow fleece jacket in the home of Kerr’s father. The clothing matched Jaliek’s jacket described by his grandmother. The grandmother later retrieved it and was charged with trespassing. 

* In Feb 2008, an anonymous note was sent to media claiming Jaliek was alive and “needed a foot soldier in the drugs war.” The note referenced Route 40 marker 30. Investigators considered it a hoax but noted it as part of the cold trail. 

* In Jan 2008, Greenwich Police Chief George Bell publicly called Kerr a person of interest. 

2012:

* December: Police publicly re-classify the case from “missing/runaway” to **missing child/presumed homicide

2017–2024: Ongoing Cold Case

* June 2022: A “credible tip” prompts a search of wooded area near South Troy, NY. Nothing announced publicly. 

* Oct 2024: Human remains (skull) found near Burden Pond Preserve in Troy. Authorities state no determination has been made that it is Jaliek’s; testing ongoing. 

Unresolved Questions

* Why did the adoptive father report the disappearance nearly two hours after discovering Jaliek missing? (Found missing ~7:30 a.m., reported ~8:57 a.m.)

* The “goodbye note” timing, handwriting, and whether it was a genuine suicidal note or coerced/placed by someone else.

* The adoptive parents’ unconventional home environment and history of respite care for Jaliek raise questions about oversight and child welfare system lapses.

* The lack of a body or direct evidence has prevented prosecution; authorities would need to attempt a “no-body” homicide case.

* The disparity in media and law-enforcement attention given that Jaliek was a biracial child—advocates cite “missing white girl syndrome” as a compounding factor. 

This case troubles me for multiple reasons. A 12-year-old boy vanishes overnight from a rural home, and years later there are still no charges, no body, and only a handful of clues. The image of the small yellow fleece jacket, the cryptic drug-war note, and the remote home with no plumbing

What’s been most painful to watch is the systemic failure: Child welfare placed Jaliek in a home with minimal oversight despite known behavioral issues. Local law enforcement initially treated him as a runaway despite persistent evidence pointing away from that scenario. And for such a long time, his case received limited national attention. That needs to change.

What I hope for is someone who knows something to speak. A tip, a confession, an overlooked scrap of evidence is all it takes. Jaliek still deserves answers, and his story still deserves the attention it has not yet received.

Jaliek Rainwalker’s whereabouts remain unknown. He would now be in his late twenties. 

If you have any information about Jaliek Rainwalker’s disappearance, please contact the Cambridge-Greenwich Police Department, Washington County, New York.