17-month-old New York infant found buried in backyard

Long Island, NY, United States (4E) – The body of a 17-month-old boy, who was never reported missing, was unearthed from his shallow grave in his mother’s Farmingdale, Long Island apartment back yard last Saturday.

According to police, authorities were called to check on the welfare of six-year-old Alex, Robert Rodriguez and Heather Kowalczik’s son with autism. He and nine-year-old Robert Jr., another of Kowalczik’s sons, were fine.

The worker asked about the youngest boy, Justin Kowalczik and the mother said he is with relatives, which turned out to be a lie, and that started the investigation.

While being interviewed by police, Kowalczik admitted, that her son, born in 2009, was buried in the back yard, and that his death remained unreported.

Authorities immediately started digging and discovered the body three feet down near a fence in the yard. They also confiscated a shovel, a photo album, a post-hole digger, a video camera, among other things from the home.

The 29-year-old mother blamed her boyfriend, Rodriguez, who is named by State Police as a person of interest in the case.

Rodriguez, who reportedly left with Robert Jr. after learning that the body was found, has been located and is being questioned by officials but he has not been arrested.

Kowalczik claimed that Rodriguez was abusive, saying that her boyfriend watched her and hit in the head and face if she would say anything.

Relatives of the mother wished they could have saved the child, an aunt, Debra Kowalczik, said that “If I knew this would have happened, I would’ve taken the baby in a heartbeat.” She added that her niece is afraid of her boyfriend.

An uncle, Sigmund Kowalczik, said that his niece is not a violent girl and described Rodriguez as a menacing figure with other girlfriends.

Neighbors are aware of the infant’s existence, but reported that Kowalczik told them she lost him during pregnancy in a car accident.

An autopsy will determine the cause of the boy’s death.

His brothers remain in the custody of child-protective services while the investigation continues.

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