New York State Troopers announced that they have dug up the body of an infant in a Farmingdale backyard and have a “person of interest” connected with the case.
The body is reportedly of Justin Kowalczik, born in 2009 and believed to be around three years old.
An investigation into the boy’s disappearance began Wednesday when Suffolk County Child Protective Services started looking into the health and welfare of a 6-year-old child parented by Robert Rodriguez and Heather Kowalczik, police said.
An initial investigation revealed that Justin was unaccounted for. That led investigators to Orange County where New York State police in Middletown initiated a missing person investigation and requested State Police Troop L on Long Island to assist in interviewing the guardians.
During an interview with police, Kowalczik revealed that Justin’s death went unreported. She also notified police of a possible location of his remains, police said.
A search warrant was obtained for the Farmingdale house and a search and dig of an area in the backyard led police to the boy’s remains, police said.
Investigators have identified Robert Rodriguez as a person of interest, police said.
During the investigation, police also learned that the 9-year-old child of Rodriguez was not at school Friday and was possibly with his father. An Ambert Alert was issued and the boy was found unharmed, police said.
Medical examiners are investigating the boy’s cause of death, police said.
Police have yet to make an arrest in the case, according to reports.
The investigation is ongoing.