The discovery of the remains of a 12-year-old boy who went missing in 2020 in Buffalo has led to a homicide investigation, the police reported on Monday. Jaylen Griffin vanished on August 4, 2020, after leaving his East Buffalo residence to go to a nearby convenience store. His body was found last Friday in a house in South Buffalo, about 5 miles away. According to Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, the boy had been deceased for quite some time as stated in a press conference.

The remains were discovered by an individual who had a legitimate reason to be in the multi-family occupied house but was not a resident there. Gramaglia did not disclose additional details about where the body was found or its condition. Dental records were used on Monday to confirm Jaylen’s identity.

Following Jaylen’s disappearance, efforts to locate him included billboards, flyers offering rewards, candlelit vigils with prayers from family and neighbors, and investigations based on various tips, even including information from psychics who reached out to authorities. Unfortunately, the news of his discovery was not the outcome they had hoped for, Gramaglia mentioned.

Tragedy struck the family further when Jaylen’s 18-year-old brother, Jawaan Griffin, was shot and killed three months after Jaylen went missing, across the street from their home. Their mother, Joann Ponzo, passed away in September at the age of 48 after an illness that was reportedly exacerbated by grief.

An autopsy to provide more insight into Jaylen’s death is anticipated to take several months, according to acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane. He stated, “This is a tragedy and it’s a terrible way to bring this search to a conclusion. This now begins a homicide investigation.”

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for April 22, which would have been Jaylen’s 16th birthday.