The grandmother of a child who went missing in 2007 wonders if the bones found at Burden Pond in South Troy over the weekend are her grandson. Jaliek Rainwalker, a boy who has been missing for 17 years, is one of the Capital Region’s biggest mysteries.

The bones were found around 5:30 p.m. Sunday by someone walking in a wooded area. They are human remains, police said.

Barbara Reeley said she got a call from State Police on Monday morning to tell her they found skeletal remains. 

Investigators have not released any information so far about how long the remains had been there, and if it was an adult or a child, male or female. The location near busy Campbell Avenue and Mill Street in South Troy is about a quarter-mile away from Thompson Street up the hill and the South Troy Dodgers Baseball Field, where crews were searching two years ago based on a tip in the Jaliek Rainwalker disappearance. 

Jaliek lived with his adoptive family in Greenwich, Washington County.

Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan was at the scene in Troy.

Reeley called police Tuesday morning for an update. She said police have a skull and a lot of remains to examine and test.

It’s hard to wait to find out, she said. She wants closure – not just for herself and her family, but for all the people who care for Jaliek.

Troy Police said they are hoping to have some results early next week.

NewsChannel 13 will keep you posted on WNYT.com and our later newscasts.