May 9, 2025 • 27 mins
Jaliek Rainwalker was just 12 when he disappeared from Greenwich, New York, in 2007.
Labeled "troubled" and shuffled between adoptive homes, Jaliek left behind a cryptic note—and vanished.
This episode explores the unanswered questions, shifting stories, and haunting behaviors that followed.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
A troubled past, a young boy searching for love and
a case that remains open aftermore than a decade this is the
story of Jalik Rainwalker, a12-year-old boy who vanished
without a trace in 2007.
Warning this podcast explorestrue crime cases and may include
(00:27):
descriptions of violence andother sensitive topics.
Listener discretion is advised.
November 2, 2007.
Green Ridge, new York, a quietvillage nestled in Washington
County.
On this day, a 12-year-old boynamed Jalik Rainwalker was
(00:51):
reported missing at 8.57 am.
The report came from hisadoptive father, stephen Kerr.
Kerr told authorities thatJalik had spent the previous
night with him at a vacant homeon Hill Street owned by Kerr's
parents.
According to Kerr, the home wasunoccupied and only the two of
(01:13):
them were there.
When Kerr woke up early thatmorning, he claimed Jalik was
gone.
Kerr also stated he discovereda note written in Jalik's
handwriting around 7.30 am.
The note read Dear Everybody,I'm sorry for everything.
(01:34):
I won't be a bother anymore.
Goodbye, jalik.
At first glance it seemed likea classic runaway case, a
troubled child leaving behind anapology letter, but as details
began to emerge, doubts quicklysurfaced about this explanation.
(01:55):
The last confirmed sighting ofJalik was on the evening of
November 1st at the home of hisadoptive paternal grandparents,
jalik and Kerr, were the onlyones in the house that night.
By the morning, the 12-year-oldboy had vanished.
(02:16):
The details of that morningraises as many questions as they
answer.
Why did Kerr take Jalik to avacant home rather than
returning him to the family'sresidence?
Was the note truly a farewellmessage from Jalik, or was there
(02:41):
more to this story?
Or was there more to this story?
These questions and the lack ofimmediate answers would mark
the beginning of aninvestigation filled with
suspicion, inconsistencies andheartbreak.
Jalik Rainwalker's story beginson August 2, 1995, in Albany,
(03:07):
new York.
From the very moment he enteredthe world, his life was marked
by challenges.
Born to a cocaine-addicted,alcoholic mother, jalik was
exposed to substances in thewomb that would impact him for
the rest of his life.
(03:27):
Prenatal exposure to drugs andalcohol can cause a range of
developmental and behavioralissues in children.
These effects often includedifficulties with emotional
regulation, cognitiveimpairments and increased
likelihood of attachmentdisorders, all of which would
(03:48):
play a significant role inJalik's life.
Within days of his birth, jalikwas placed into foster care,
where he would spend the nextseven years.
During this time, he movedthrough six different foster
(04:08):
homes, each one offering varyinglevels of support and stability
.
One of his longest stays waswith Larry and Jodi Sean, who
cared for Jalik for four years.
The Seans described him as abright, loving and generous
(04:29):
child.
Despite these admirablequalities, they also noted that
he struggled deeply withemotional and behavioral
challenges.
Jalik had been diagnosed withreactive attachment disorder, a
condition that occurs when achild is unable to form healthy
(04:50):
attachment with caregivers,often due to early neglect or
inconsistent care.
This disorder can manifest insevere outbursts, difficulty
trusting others and anoverwhelming need for control.
Although the Shons receivedspecialized training to care for
(05:19):
children with special needs,jalik's outbursts proved
particularly difficult to manage.
At times, these episodes couldlast up to an hour and during
them he would physically lashout at others.
Despite their best efforts,they often found it impossible
(05:42):
to console him.
They often found it impossibleto console him.
There were moments thatrevealed his incredible
potential.
Once Jalik learned to read, hedevoured books, sometimes
finishing one a day.
He loved playing soccer,running outside and exploring
his passions for dinosaursrunning outside and exploring
(06:09):
his passions for dinosaurs.
These glimmers of joy andintelligence made it clear that
Jalik was a special child, evenas he battled his inner turmoil.
Sadly, as Jalik grew older, hisviolent tendencies escalated,
creating an unsafe environmentfor the Shones family.
The breaking point came whenJalik attacked their younger
(06:32):
daughter during one of hisoutbursts.
Faced with the heartbreakingreality that they could no
longer provide the care heneeded they could no longer
provide the care he needed theShones made the difficult
decision to not move forwardwith the adoption and place him
(06:53):
with another family.
Jalik's next placement was withStephen Kerr and his wife,
jocelyn McDonald, who had threebiological sons and one adopted
daughter, who had threebiological sons and one adopted
daughter.
From the outside, this appearedto be an ideal home for a young
boy seeking stability, a familyof a mix of biological and
(07:15):
adopted children who might beable to provide the support and
love he needed.
But appearances can be verydeceiving and the dynamics
within the Kerr McDonaldhousehold would soon raise
questions about whether this wastruly the right place for Jalik
(07:37):
.
Jalik Rainwalker's life withhis adoptive family was anything
but conventional.
At the time of hisdisappearance he lived with
Stephen Kerr and JocelynMcDonald and their other
children in, I guess, mata'shome in Casa Lluna, new York.
(08:00):
I say Mata's home, but it's anunderstatement.
The home itself was small,described as more of a shack or
cabin than an actual traditionalhouse Measuring approximately
20 feet by 20 feet.
The entire family slepttogether in a single room.
(08:22):
There was no indoor plumbing,no television and only limited
electricity provided by agenerator that ran for a few
hours each day.
The family stated that theychose this lifestyle
intentionally, believing it wasbetter for the environment.
(08:44):
Believing it was better for theenvironment, but this
environment, paired with Jalik'sescalating emotional and
behavioral struggles, createdsignificant tension within the
household.
Over the five years Jalik spentwith the Kerr-McDonald family,
(09:06):
his outbursts became morefrequent and severe.
No-transcript.
A week before Jalik disappeared,on October 23, 2007, stephen
Kerr reached out to the crisishotline in desperation.
(09:29):
He told the worker that Jalikwas unmanageable and had
recently threatened anotherchild in their homeschool group.
Their homeschool group,according to the crisis worker,
jocelyn McDonald was afraid ofJalik and no longer wanted him
in their home.
The couple asked whether it waspossible to reverse the
(09:53):
adoption and have Jalik removedfrom their care.
The answer was no.
Adoption.
The answer was no.
Adoption, as they were told, ispermanent.
The crisis worker insteadrecommended respite care,
temporary placement with anotherfamily trained to handle
(10:15):
children with emotional andbehavioral challenges.
Jalik was sent to live withElaine and Tom Person, a couple
who had previously provided carefor him and were experienced in
working with children withattachment disorders.
By all accounts, jalik seemedto settle into the Person
(10:41):
household, but this arrangementwas always intended to be
temporary.
On November 1st 2007, stephenKerr picked Jalik up from the
Person's home.
The family planned to send himto another respite provider the
(11:01):
following day, but that daywould never come.
Jalik disappeared the night ofNovember 1st.
His family dynamics, from theunconventional living conditions
to the growing tensions,jalik's environment wasn't one
(11:26):
of safety and support, and Ithink it was pushing him further
into isolation and despair.
As we delve deeper into theinvestigation, you will soon
come to share the same sentiment.
(11:49):
When 12-year-old JalikRainwalker was reported missing
on the morning of November 2,2007, authorities initially
treated the case as a runawaysituation.
Stephen Kerr, his adoptivefather, told police that he had
(12:15):
woken up to find Jalit gone fromthe vacant family-owned home
where they had spent the night.
A note allegedly written byJalit was left behind reading
Dear Everybody, I'm sorry foreverything.
I won't be a bother anymore.
Goodbye, signed Jalik.
At first glance, it seemed tosupport Kerr's claim that Jalik
(12:35):
had simply run away, but asinvestigators looked deeper,
cracks begin to form in thatnarrative, cambridge Greenwich
Police Chief, george Bell,wasted no time reaching out for
(12:56):
assistance.
Local and state law enforcement, including the New York State
Police, washington CountySheriff's Office and even the
FBI, joined the search.
The investigation was one ofthe most extensive in Washington
County's history.
(13:17):
Teams scoured miles of ground,including the Battenkill River
and the Hudson River, hoping forany sign of Jalik, but nothing
(13:38):
was found no footprints, no tornclothing, no personal
belongings.
Then came the first major redflag when investigators retraced
Stephen Kerr's steps on thenight of Jalik's disappearance,
inconsistencies began to emerge.
Began to emerge.
(13:59):
Kerr had told police he drovestraight from the respite home
in Albany County, stopped fordinner at Red Robin in Latham
and then returned to the vacanthome in Greenwich where he and
Jalik spent the night.
Cell phone records told adifferent story.
Cell tower triangulation placedKerr in a location he never
(14:25):
mentioned to police, somewherebetween Albany and Greenwich.
Surveillance footage alsocontradicted his timeline,
showing a vehicle matching hisvan driving through Main Street
in Greenwich when he claimed hewas elsewhere.
(14:47):
Then there was the polygraph.
When authorities asked her totake a lie detector test, he
refused.
His wife, jocelyn McDonald,agreed to one, but unfortunately
she failed.
If your child is missing.
(15:13):
Wouldn't you do everything inyour power to help authorities?
I know I would.
Now, why are you refusing totake a polygraph and why move
out of state just four monthsafter the disappearance of your
(15:34):
son?
Because that's exactly whatKerr and McDonald did.
They left their home in EastGreenwich and relocated to West
Rupert, vermont, cutting off allcommunication with both law
enforcement and Jalik's adoptivematernal grandmother, barbara
(15:55):
Reilly.
In contrast to his adoptiveparents' actions, there have
been a continuous effort bythose who truly cared about
Jalik Barbara Reilly, hisgrandmother immediately filed
for custody after hisdisappearance, hoping to provide
(16:16):
him with a stable home.
Elaine and Tom Person, thecouple who had provided respite
care, also remained involved,speaking to authorities and
publicly challenging Kerr'sversion of events, while his
adoptive father and motherdistanced themselves.
(16:37):
These individuals fought tokeep Jalik's story alive.
These individuals fought tokeep Jalik's story alive.
Suspicions against Kerr grewstronger In January 2008,.
(16:58):
Police officially named him aperson of interest, citing his
lack of cooperation andinconsistencies in his
statements.
That same year, authoritiesobtained a search warrant and
(17:20):
seized a computer from thepolice, claiming the search was
unlawful and that they had beenharassed.
Then, in a bizarre twist, localmedia outlets received an
anonymous note that read Jalikis still alive.
(17:41):
Needed a foot soldier for thiswar on drugs.
There was no evidence tosupport this claim and, to this
day, the origin of the noteremains unknown.
In December 2012, five yearsafter Jalik was last seen,
(18:05):
authorities reclassified hiscase as a probable homicide
homicide.
By that point, the possibilitythat he had run away and
survived on his own had all butbeen ruled out.
Adding another layer ofcomplexity, kerr insisted that
Jalik had run away because hestrongly identified with his
(18:31):
African-American heritage andhad expressed a desire to live
with a Black family or listen tothis join a gang.
There was no evidence, andthere has never been evidence,
to support this claim.
Yet this question remains whatreally happened to Jalik
(18:57):
Rainwalker?
The more you examine thedetails of this case, the harder
it becomes to believe that a12-year-old left on their own
and managed to survive for thislong.
His troubled home life and thebizarre actions of his parents
(19:19):
moving away after their son'sdisappearance and cursed stories
about his whereabouts don'tmatch up, and it all points to
something far more sinisterBeyond law enforcement.
(19:43):
Many in the public havedeveloped their own theories
about Jalik's disappearance.
Online discussions,particularly on platforms like
Reddit and Facebook haveexamined the inconsistencies in
Kerr's story, the dynamicswithin the household and the
(20:03):
failures of the system thatshould have protected Jalik.
Some have questioned why Kurtand McDonald adopted him in the
first place, suggesting they maynot have fully understood or
(20:28):
been prepared for his emotionalstruggles, and, when the
situation became too much forhis adoptive parents, they
sought a permanent way out.
One local resident recalledseeing Kerr frequently before he
left the area, describing himas creepy all around.
(20:53):
Another commenter who workswith at-risk youth noted how
exhausting it can be to care forchildren with complex emotional
needs, speculating that Kerrand McDonald may have seen Jalik
as a threat to their otherchildren and taken matters into
their own hands.
Each of these theories presentsa different version of the
(21:17):
truth, but one fact remainsclear Jalik Rainwalker has been
missing for over a decade andthe answers remain elusive.
Jalik Rainwalker's disappearanceleft an undeniable mark on the
(21:37):
Greenwich community.
For years, residents, advocatesand law enforcement have worked
tirelessly to uncover the truth.
Posters were displayed, onlineforums were created and search
efforts continued.
Unlined forms were created andsearch efforts continued, each a
testament to the unwaveringcommitment to finding answers.
(21:59):
His adoptive maternalgrandmother, barbara Reilly, has
been one of his fiercestadvocates ensuring his name is
(22:19):
not forgotten.
She has organized events, giveninterviews and collaborated
with law enforcement, keepingthe case alive.
In October 2024, human remainswere discovered near Burden Pond
in Troy, new York.
Near Burden Pond in Troy, newYork, briefly renewing
(22:39):
speculation.
However, authorities laterconfirmed they were not Jalik's.
Despite this, hope remains.
Social media groups and onlineforums continue to share updates
, theories and support.
While media coverage shareupdates, theories and support.
While media coverage,documentaries, news reports and
(23:04):
podcasts help keep Jalik's storyin the public eye, the goal
remains the same Raise awareness, find answers and seek justice.
As the years pass, thecommunity's resilience and law
enforcement's dedication serveas a powerful testament.
(23:27):
Jalik Rainwalker's story is notand will not be forgotten.
This case is far from over andthe search for the truth
continues.
Before we close, I want toremind everyone listening Jalik
(23:47):
Rainwalker was a child.
He was 12 years old, a youngboy with green eyes and a light
complexion, standing just 5'6"and weighing 105 pounds.
He has been missing sinceNovember 1st 2007.
(24:11):
And the last person to haveseen him was Stephen Kerr.
Someone out there knows thetruth.
I can't imagine what it's liketo live with the secret, to
carry the weight of knowing whathappened to Jalik?
Maybe it was a mistake.
(24:32):
Maybe it was a mistake, maybeit was fear, but silence is a
choice.
That choice keeps an innocentchild lost in the shadows of
uncertainty.
There are people who truly care, who have never stopped
searching and who want the bestfor him, no matter the outcome.
(24:56):
If you know something, now isthe time to speak up.
Do not let this weigh on yourconscience any longer.
Do the right thing.
If you have any information,please contact the New York
State Police at 1-800-GIVE-TIP,the Greenwich Police Department
(25:18):
at 518-692-9332, or send anemail to crimetip at
troopersnewyorkgov.
Your silence could mean thedifference between answers and a
(25:47):
case that remains open.
A troubled past, a young boy searching for love and
a case that remains open aftermore than a decade this is the
story of Jalik Rainwalker, a12-year-old boy who vanished
without a trace in 2007.
Warning this podcast explorestrue crime cases and may include
(00:27):
descriptions of violence andother sensitive topics.
Listener discretion is advised.
November 2, 2007.
Green Ridge, new York, a quietvillage nestled in Washington
County.
On this day, a 12-year-old boynamed Jalik Rainwalker was
(00:51):
reported missing at 8.57 am.
The report came from hisadoptive father, stephen Kerr.
Kerr told authorities thatJalik had spent the previous
night with him at a vacant homeon Hill Street owned by Kerr's
parents.
According to Kerr, the home wasunoccupied and only the two of
(01:13):
them were there.
When Kerr woke up early thatmorning, he claimed Jalik was
gone.
Kerr also stated he discovereda note written in Jalik's
handwriting around 7.30 am.
The note read Dear Everybody,I'm sorry for everything.
(01:34):
I won't be a bother anymore.
Goodbye, jalik.
At first glance it seemed likea classic runaway case, a
troubled child leaving behind anapology letter, but as details
began to emerge, doubts quicklysurfaced about this explanation.
(01:55):
The last confirmed sighting ofJalik was on the evening of
November 1st at the home of hisadoptive paternal grandparents,
jalik and Kerr, were the onlyones in the house that night.
By the morning, the 12-year-oldboy had vanished.
(02:16):
The details of that morningraises as many questions as they
answer.
Why did Kerr take Jalik to avacant home rather than
returning him to the family'sresidence?
Was the note truly a farewellmessage from Jalik, or was there
(02:41):
more to this story?
Or was there more to this story?
These questions and the lack ofimmediate answers would mark
the beginning of aninvestigation filled with
suspicion, inconsistencies andheartbreak.
Jalik Rainwalker's story beginson August 2, 1995, in Albany,
(03:07):
new York.
From the very moment he enteredthe world, his life was marked
by challenges.
Born to a cocaine-addicted,alcoholic mother, jalik was
exposed to substances in thewomb that would impact him for
the rest of his life.
(03:27):
Prenatal exposure to drugs andalcohol can cause a range of
developmental and behavioralissues in children.
These effects often includedifficulties with emotional
regulation, cognitiveimpairments and increased
likelihood of attachmentdisorders, all of which would
(03:48):
play a significant role inJalik's life.
Within days of his birth, jalikwas placed into foster care,
where he would spend the nextseven years.
During this time, he movedthrough six different foster
(04:08):
homes, each one offering varyinglevels of support and stability
.
One of his longest stays waswith Larry and Jodi Sean, who
cared for Jalik for four years.
The Seans described him as abright, loving and generous
(04:29):
child.
Despite these admirablequalities, they also noted that
he struggled deeply withemotional and behavioral
challenges.
Jalik had been diagnosed withreactive attachment disorder, a
condition that occurs when achild is unable to form healthy
(04:50):
attachment with caregivers,often due to early neglect or
inconsistent care.
This disorder can manifest insevere outbursts, difficulty
trusting others and anoverwhelming need for control.
Although the Shons receivedspecialized training to care for
(05:19):
children with special needs,jalik's outbursts proved
particularly difficult to manage.
At times, these episodes couldlast up to an hour and during
them he would physically lashout at others.
Despite their best efforts,they often found it impossible
(05:42):
to console him.
They often found it impossibleto console him.
There were moments thatrevealed his incredible
potential.
Once Jalik learned to read, hedevoured books, sometimes
finishing one a day.
He loved playing soccer,running outside and exploring
his passions for dinosaursrunning outside and exploring
(06:09):
his passions for dinosaurs.
These glimmers of joy andintelligence made it clear that
Jalik was a special child, evenas he battled his inner turmoil.
Sadly, as Jalik grew older, hisviolent tendencies escalated,
creating an unsafe environmentfor the Shones family.
The breaking point came whenJalik attacked their younger
(06:32):
daughter during one of hisoutbursts.
Faced with the heartbreakingreality that they could no
longer provide the care heneeded they could no longer
provide the care he needed theShones made the difficult
decision to not move forwardwith the adoption and place him
(06:53):
with another family.
Jalik's next placement was withStephen Kerr and his wife,
jocelyn McDonald, who had threebiological sons and one adopted
daughter, who had threebiological sons and one adopted
daughter.
From the outside, this appearedto be an ideal home for a young
boy seeking stability, a familyof a mix of biological and
(07:15):
adopted children who might beable to provide the support and
love he needed.
But appearances can be verydeceiving and the dynamics
within the Kerr McDonaldhousehold would soon raise
questions about whether this wastruly the right place for Jalik
(07:37):
.
Jalik Rainwalker's life withhis adoptive family was anything
but conventional.
At the time of hisdisappearance he lived with
Stephen Kerr and JocelynMcDonald and their other
children in, I guess, mata'shome in Casa Lluna, new York.
(08:00):
I say Mata's home, but it's anunderstatement.
The home itself was small,described as more of a shack or
cabin than an actual traditionalhouse Measuring approximately
20 feet by 20 feet.
The entire family slepttogether in a single room.
(08:22):
There was no indoor plumbing,no television and only limited
electricity provided by agenerator that ran for a few
hours each day.
The family stated that theychose this lifestyle
intentionally, believing it wasbetter for the environment.
(08:44):
Believing it was better for theenvironment, but this
environment, paired with Jalik'sescalating emotional and
behavioral struggles, createdsignificant tension within the
household.
Over the five years Jalik spentwith the Kerr-McDonald family,
(09:06):
his outbursts became morefrequent and severe.
No-transcript.
A week before Jalik disappeared,on October 23, 2007, stephen
Kerr reached out to the crisishotline in desperation.
(09:29):
He told the worker that Jalikwas unmanageable and had
recently threatened anotherchild in their homeschool group.
Their homeschool group,according to the crisis worker,
jocelyn McDonald was afraid ofJalik and no longer wanted him
in their home.
The couple asked whether it waspossible to reverse the
(09:53):
adoption and have Jalik removedfrom their care.
The answer was no.
Adoption.
The answer was no.
Adoption, as they were told, ispermanent.
The crisis worker insteadrecommended respite care,
temporary placement with anotherfamily trained to handle
(10:15):
children with emotional andbehavioral challenges.
Jalik was sent to live withElaine and Tom Person, a couple
who had previously provided carefor him and were experienced in
working with children withattachment disorders.
By all accounts, jalik seemedto settle into the Person
(10:41):
household, but this arrangementwas always intended to be
temporary.
On November 1st 2007, stephenKerr picked Jalik up from the
Person's home.
The family planned to send himto another respite provider the
(11:01):
following day, but that daywould never come.
Jalik disappeared the night ofNovember 1st.
His family dynamics, from theunconventional living conditions
to the growing tensions,jalik's environment wasn't one
(11:26):
of safety and support, and Ithink it was pushing him further
into isolation and despair.
As we delve deeper into theinvestigation, you will soon
come to share the same sentiment.
(11:49):
When 12-year-old JalikRainwalker was reported missing
on the morning of November 2,2007, authorities initially
treated the case as a runawaysituation.
Stephen Kerr, his adoptivefather, told police that he had
(12:15):
woken up to find Jalit gone fromthe vacant family-owned home
where they had spent the night.
A note allegedly written byJalit was left behind reading
Dear Everybody, I'm sorry foreverything.
I won't be a bother anymore.
Goodbye, signed Jalik.
At first glance, it seemed tosupport Kerr's claim that Jalik
(12:35):
had simply run away, but asinvestigators looked deeper,
cracks begin to form in thatnarrative, cambridge Greenwich
Police Chief, george Bell,wasted no time reaching out for
(12:56):
assistance.
Local and state law enforcement, including the New York State
Police, washington CountySheriff's Office and even the
FBI, joined the search.
The investigation was one ofthe most extensive in Washington
County's history.
(13:17):
Teams scoured miles of ground,including the Battenkill River
and the Hudson River, hoping forany sign of Jalik, but nothing
(13:38):
was found no footprints, no tornclothing, no personal
belongings.
Then came the first major redflag when investigators retraced
Stephen Kerr's steps on thenight of Jalik's disappearance,
inconsistencies began to emerge.
Began to emerge.
(13:59):
Kerr had told police he drovestraight from the respite home
in Albany County, stopped fordinner at Red Robin in Latham
and then returned to the vacanthome in Greenwich where he and
Jalik spent the night.
Cell phone records told adifferent story.
Cell tower triangulation placedKerr in a location he never
(14:25):
mentioned to police, somewherebetween Albany and Greenwich.
Surveillance footage alsocontradicted his timeline,
showing a vehicle matching hisvan driving through Main Street
in Greenwich when he claimed hewas elsewhere.
(14:47):
Then there was the polygraph.
When authorities asked her totake a lie detector test, he
refused.
His wife, jocelyn McDonald,agreed to one, but unfortunately
she failed.
If your child is missing.
(15:13):
Wouldn't you do everything inyour power to help authorities?
I know I would.
Now, why are you refusing totake a polygraph and why move
out of state just four monthsafter the disappearance of your
(15:34):
son?
Because that's exactly whatKerr and McDonald did.
They left their home in EastGreenwich and relocated to West
Rupert, vermont, cutting off allcommunication with both law
enforcement and Jalik's adoptivematernal grandmother, barbara
(15:55):
Reilly.
In contrast to his adoptiveparents' actions, there have
been a continuous effort bythose who truly cared about
Jalik Barbara Reilly, hisgrandmother immediately filed
for custody after hisdisappearance, hoping to provide
(16:16):
him with a stable home.
Elaine and Tom Person, thecouple who had provided respite
care, also remained involved,speaking to authorities and
publicly challenging Kerr'sversion of events, while his
adoptive father and motherdistanced themselves.
(16:37):
These individuals fought tokeep Jalik's story alive.
These individuals fought tokeep Jalik's story alive.
Suspicions against Kerr grewstronger In January 2008,.
(16:58):
Police officially named him aperson of interest, citing his
lack of cooperation andinconsistencies in his
statements.
That same year, authoritiesobtained a search warrant and
(17:20):
seized a computer from thepolice, claiming the search was
unlawful and that they had beenharassed.
Then, in a bizarre twist, localmedia outlets received an
anonymous note that read Jalikis still alive.
(17:41):
Needed a foot soldier for thiswar on drugs.
There was no evidence tosupport this claim and, to this
day, the origin of the noteremains unknown.
In December 2012, five yearsafter Jalik was last seen,
(18:05):
authorities reclassified hiscase as a probable homicide
homicide.
By that point, the possibilitythat he had run away and
survived on his own had all butbeen ruled out.
Adding another layer ofcomplexity, kerr insisted that
Jalik had run away because hestrongly identified with his
(18:31):
African-American heritage andhad expressed a desire to live
with a Black family or listen tothis join a gang.
There was no evidence, andthere has never been evidence,
to support this claim.
Yet this question remains whatreally happened to Jalik
(18:57):
Rainwalker?
The more you examine thedetails of this case, the harder
it becomes to believe that a12-year-old left on their own
and managed to survive for thislong.
His troubled home life and thebizarre actions of his parents
(19:19):
moving away after their son'sdisappearance and cursed stories
about his whereabouts don'tmatch up, and it all points to
something far more sinisterBeyond law enforcement.
(19:43):
Many in the public havedeveloped their own theories
about Jalik's disappearance.
Online discussions,particularly on platforms like
Reddit and Facebook haveexamined the inconsistencies in
Kerr's story, the dynamicswithin the household and the
(20:03):
failures of the system thatshould have protected Jalik.
Some have questioned why Kurtand McDonald adopted him in the
first place, suggesting they maynot have fully understood or
(20:28):
been prepared for his emotionalstruggles, and, when the
situation became too much forhis adoptive parents, they
sought a permanent way out.
One local resident recalledseeing Kerr frequently before he
left the area, describing himas creepy all around.
(20:53):
Another commenter who workswith at-risk youth noted how
exhausting it can be to care forchildren with complex emotional
needs, speculating that Kerrand McDonald may have seen Jalik
as a threat to their otherchildren and taken matters into
their own hands.
Each of these theories presentsa different version of the
(21:17):
truth, but one fact remainsclear Jalik Rainwalker has been
missing for over a decade andthe answers remain elusive.
Jalik Rainwalker's disappearanceleft an undeniable mark on the
(21:37):
Greenwich community.
For years, residents, advocatesand law enforcement have worked
tirelessly to uncover the truth.
Posters were displayed, onlineforums were created and search
efforts continued.
Unlined forms were created andsearch efforts continued, each a
testament to the unwaveringcommitment to finding answers.
(21:59):
His adoptive maternalgrandmother, barbara Reilly, has
been one of his fiercestadvocates ensuring his name is
(22:19):
not forgotten.
She has organized events, giveninterviews and collaborated
with law enforcement, keepingthe case alive.
In October 2024, human remainswere discovered near Burden Pond
in Troy, new York.
Near Burden Pond in Troy, newYork, briefly renewing
(22:39):
speculation.
However, authorities laterconfirmed they were not Jalik's.
Despite this, hope remains.
Social media groups and onlineforums continue to share updates
, theories and support.
While media coverage shareupdates, theories and support.
While media coverage,documentaries, news reports and
(23:04):
podcasts help keep Jalik's storyin the public eye, the goal
remains the same Raise awareness, find answers and seek justice.
As the years pass, thecommunity's resilience and law
enforcement's dedication serveas a powerful testament.
(23:27):
Jalik Rainwalker's story is notand will not be forgotten.
This case is far from over andthe search for the truth
continues.
Before we close, I want toremind everyone listening Jalik
(23:47):
Rainwalker was a child.
He was 12 years old, a youngboy with green eyes and a light
complexion, standing just 5'6"and weighing 105 pounds.
He has been missing sinceNovember 1st 2007.
(24:11):
And the last person to haveseen him was Stephen Kerr.
Someone out there knows thetruth.
I can't imagine what it's liketo live with the secret, to
carry the weight of knowing whathappened to Jalik?
Maybe it was a mistake.
(24:32):
Maybe it was a mistake, maybeit was fear, but silence is a
choice.
That choice keeps an innocentchild lost in the shadows of
uncertainty.
There are people who truly care, who have never stopped
searching and who want the bestfor him, no matter the outcome.
(24:56):
If you know something, now isthe time to speak up.
Do not let this weigh on yourconscience any longer.
Do the right thing.
If you have any information,please contact the New York
State Police at 1-800-GIVE-TIP,the Greenwich Police Department
(25:18):
at 518-692-9332, or send anemail to crimetip at
troopersnewyorkgov.
Your silence could mean thedifference between answers and a
(25:47):
case that remains open.
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