The adoptive father of missing Jaliek Rainwalker, has been named a “person of interest“. Apparently it wasn’t because he allegedly took down fliers seeking community support to search for Jaliek. Nor was it the odd tale of the child running away to join an African-American family or gang. It wasn’t even his refusal to take a polygraph or the odd note Jaliek allegedly wrote as part of a home work assignment.
GREENWICH — New evidence in the case of missing 12-year-old Jaliek Rainwalker has hurt the credibility of his adoptive police said Monday. Investigators have uncovered an image of a van that looks like the one Stephen Kerr was driving the night Rainwalker disappeared.
His attorney defends his actions by suggesting how difficult it is to remember events that happened months ago. Just a thought, why didn’t he share the information then?
Father refuses to allow search
Waited nearly 90 minutes to report Jaliek missing on Nov. 2. Kerr told police he found what he deemed a “suicide or runaway” note at 7:30 a.m. that day, but called police at 8:57 a.m. Police would not say what his explanation is, and his lawyer, Jeffrey McMorris, said he did not know either, but that it was impossible to recall every moment of a day 2-1/2 months ago.
Some reports are that Stephen Kerr wants to know where the videotape was taken. The Post-Star stated it was obtained from the Glens Falls National Bank in Greenwich and is video of a gold Chrysler Town & Country van. Police had previously searched the van but found no evidence.
Update 01-17-08 In what could be considered a questionable “move” the family may actually be doing just that. Would you move from where your child went missing without the case being resolved? The weather may not be the only thing chilly in West Rupert, Vt.
Neighbors say Kerr planning move to Vt.
WEST RUPERT, Vt. – There is a new chapter opening surrounding the case of missing 12-year-old Jaliek Rainwalker. Residents in the small town of West Rupert, Vermont say Jaliek’s adoptive family is moving there.
Update 01-31-08
ALBANY - The FBI is investigating a letter sent to Capital Region media outlets claiming missing 12-year-old Jaliek Rainwalker is alive and well.NewsChannel 13 and The Post-Star received copies of the anonymous letter Thursday morning
This note was apparently provided to them.
FYI: Clues police can use to link a document with a printer:
- Similar shreds or dust
- Consistency of ink
- Streaks, marks, or lines caused by the printer
- Some printers contain chips that record usage
- Some printers create a pattern of small dots visible only under ultra-violet light.
Source: Times Union research
Update 02-07-08 Fox23 News
Police are expected to look in the Hudson River this morning for 12-year-old Jaliek Rainwalker.
Investigators think Rainwalker’s adoptive father, Stephen Kerr, may have traveled through the Troy area the night of November 1st, which was the last time Jaliek was seen.
Update 02-08-08 Police Search Home of Jaliek Rainwalker’s Grandparents in Greenwich according to Fox23 News.
Authorities collect bags and boxes of evidence from inside the home where missing 12-year-old Jaliek Rainwalker once stayed. Police in Greenwich got a search warrant to go into the home on Hill Street in the town, and they came out with a sizable amount of evidence.
Update 02-08-08
WEST RUPERT, Vt. — Jaliek Rainwalker’s adoptive parents move to Vermont, but their new neighbors say they are not welcome. Stephen Kerr and Jocelyn McDonald moved across state lines to the small town of West Rupert, Vermont
Update 02-16-08 Stephen Kerr’s and Jocelyn McDonald’s attorney doesn’t seem to dispute his clients possible role in connection with writing the note received by Police, only how evidence is being collected.
GREENWICH — The adoptive parents of missing 12-year-old Jaliek Rainwalker filed a notice of claim Friday against the village of Greenwich and its police chief over the search of their home last week by police, alleging “trespass and false imprisonment,” among other accusations.
Update Nov. 1st: View latest missing poster jaliek-rainwalker
i know stephen kerr. i felt great sympathy for the family, at first. i know that stephen is idealistic and good hearted. but i also know he is arrogant and hot headed, and that he thinks he is smarter than most everyone else. and in his behavior these past months, i see signs that he is not telling the full story of what happened that night. i do not think he killed jaliek. but i do think it is highly possible he let him out of the van, on rt. 40 perhaps–where the anonymous letter says jaliek was picked up–hoping to teach jaliek a lesson.
i think a battle of angry wills went on in that van that night. stephen does not like to be challenged, especially when he thinks he is doing you a favor. and he must be smart enough to know that letting your minor child out of the car onto a state highway at night is tantamount to a chanrge of criminal neglect or endangerment. at the very least.
his continued arrogance and attitude of offended dignity tells me he is upset that his lies are not fooling everyone, and yet, sadly there is not enough physical evidence to level charges against him.
he came into my workplace and told my employer– a man he knows only very superficially–some very hostile and offensive things about jaliek, things an angry man would say. not things a concerned parent would say about their missing child.
Rose Finch
Have you talked to the police about this? This needs to be reported. You have already disclosed your name, so you must report this to the police. I will trust that you will report this. Jaliek has no voice but yours at this point. If everything you say is true, this is important information that must be relayed to police. I trust you will do this, and if not, I must let them know. Joy Purdy 518-423-5416 Jillitaj@aol.com
Thank you for keeping this website updated. Our search for my grandson Jaliek continues. When the snow melts here in Upstate New York searchers will be back out trying to find Jaliek. My husband and I miss him and Jaliek has many people who care about him.
i feel so bad for jaliek, no child shouldhavetolive in those conditions. I have seen both the parents,and in stores, they are very mean and say things like you wait till we get home. they shouldn’t have had him, they aren’t good people. Children can’t help their lifes. and if they were given money they should have donethe right thing.and social services claims it out of their hands of course take no action another child has to suffer uneleivable, i hope they never get any morekids and moving away,yah right,they hurt another kid