Toddler's remains found buried in Long Island backyard

Police have discovered what they believe to be the remains of Justin Kowalczik, a missing 17-month-old boy in Farmingdale, Long Island.

According to investigators, Kowalczik's remains were found buried in the backyard of the home Justin's mother, Heather Kowalczik, rented with her boyfriend and their two other children.

The search for Justin was ignited Wednesday after police say someone called Child Protective Services out of concern for the health and welfare of Justin's 6-year-old sibling.

Police said when officials inquired into Justin's whereabouts, his mother first said he was with relatives, but then revealed he died in 2010. It was unclear how he died and why he was buried in the family's backyard.

Kowalczik and her boyfriend, Robert Rodriguez, have been questioned by police but have not been charged. An investigation is ongoing.

"It is absolutely a suspicious death and it is being investigated as such," said State Police Maj. Patrick Regan. "We don't have a cause of death, and to our knowledge, there was never a report made of the child being missing."

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On Friday, an Amber Alert was issued when Rodriguez abducted his 9-year-old son, after allegedly learning of the investigation.

The Amber Alert was canceled a short while later when the two were found by police.

A medical examiner is performing an autopsy on Justin, who would have been 3 years old.

Police say Kowalczik and Rodriguez are no longer cooperating with authorities. Their two surviving children were in the custody of county child welfare agents, police said.
 
Neighbor Tekiera McCormack told Newsday that she was stunned.
 
"I can't see this," she told the newspaper. "This is crazy. She was a good mother. Those kids loved her."

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Whatever they do, just dont allow the father visitations!!!! we all know what happens right!??? OMG. they should be holding them in the jail till they find out what they did!!!

    Reply#102 - Sun Oct 7, 2012 2:09 PM EDT

    very sad case

      Reply#103 - Sun Oct 7, 2012 2:12 PM EDT

      The parents should be arrested and put under heavy manners to puke the truth out about the dead tikki. some one gige a hand to dig the hole and placed the decease into it. THE MASTERMIND laid down serious threats to keep the peace or else. since the baby was an outside job it had no peace in that family waking in the noght with hunger. being wet, inpains, scary dreams...

      Almighty you say to suffer the little ones to come to you Lord but not this way Please direct the truth to unfold. These parents are with holding the truth for some specific reason. The baby have suffered some pains before death. even in the back yard burial.

        Reply#104 - Sun Oct 7, 2012 2:33 PM EDT

        "Police said when officials inquired into Justin's whereabouts, his mother first said he was with relatives, but then revealed he died in 2010. It was unclear how he died and why he was buried in the family's backyard."

        Ok first they say he's with relatives and then say he's dead. Sounds guilty to me. No death certificate or anything. Lock them up. Period

          Reply#105 - Sun Oct 7, 2012 2:45 PM EDT

          As usual, this kind of thread basically leads to Christian bashing. And the communist remarks about making people get permission to have a baby - oh, please!!!

            Reply#106 - Sun Oct 7, 2012 5:36 PM EDT

            Bury them both in the backyard and be done with it. I have a shovel.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#107 - Sun Oct 7, 2012 5:45 PM EDT

            I'll help! And let's put the biological father/fathers there too for neglecting their children and running away from their responsibilities! Enough of this crap! It isn't OK for these fathers to either marry and run away or not marry and just procreate and run away.

            Long past time for us to stop "just turning the other cheek" when men run from their responsibilities. It is NOT OK. We used to shun men who did such a thing - difficult to find jobs, etc. Now, it is just accepted. It isn't only with lower income homes either. This problem will doom America and its children!

              #107.1 - Mon Oct 8, 2012 10:42 AM EDT
              Reply

              How and why? You don't bury your own child in your backyard unless you have something to hide....something very sinister.

              Thank you to the person who made the report in regards to the welfare of the 6 year old.

                Reply#108 - Sun Oct 7, 2012 9:01 PM EDT

                And they have lawyers now and are refusing to answer questions....how special! Glad their other kids aren't with them, and hope the truth is squeezed out of Kowalczik. Maybe she can do Baby Justin some justice now by telling the truth.

                  Reply#109 - Sun Oct 7, 2012 9:12 PM EDT

                  @Liberal College Girl

                  It's people like you that make it possible for people like Casey Anthony to walk free. This womans baby was buried in HER back yard and when the police asked her where he was she LIED...There is no doubt about it, SHE IS GUILTY for the death of that baby.

                    Reply#110 - Sun Oct 7, 2012 9:51 PM EDT

                    Perhaps they were involved w/ drugs. The drug dealers coulda killed the kid (on purpose or by accident) and threatened the parents if they talked.

                    Seems to me... somebody owes you $.... eliminating one of their expenses might be a way to get paid back faster

                      #110.1 - Fri Oct 12, 2012 10:50 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      I would run out of money before I could get that drunk..

                      Wonder if she was getting welfare for all those kids...?

                      Where was the kids real Dad during this...?

                        Reply#111 - Mon Oct 8, 2012 7:48 AM EDT

                        One 17 month old buried in the backyard and authorities called about concerns for a 6 year old. But, "she was a good mother". Give us strength!

                        I am sick of biological fathers disappearing! Come on, men of America, man up! Too many single moms left with kids to take care of. What is wrong with American husbands and fathers! They run away from responsibilities toward their wives and their children. Enough already!

                        That is not meant to take any responsibility from the mother and her "boyfriend". Sickos in this world!

                          Reply#112 - Mon Oct 8, 2012 10:38 AM EDT

                          Another innocent life lost. RIP little one, hopefully the justice system will get this one right!

                            Reply#113 - Mon Oct 8, 2012 11:07 AM EDT

                            "Good" and "loving" mothers don't bury their dead children in the backyard - no matter how that child died. More than likely, the child didn't die under normal circumstances. What do you want to bet drugs and/or alcohol involved in this one. But too late to know, and too late for the child. Just sad.

                              Reply#114 - Mon Oct 8, 2012 11:19 AM EDT

                              why didnt anyone in this boys family ask about his wearabouts for almost 2 years .. im not understanding this . and the siblings? they have never said anything to a teacher or someone at school about their missing brother?

                                Reply#115 - Mon Oct 8, 2012 11:29 AM EDT

                                "no, my child is a relatives"...no wait, "he's been dead for 2 years, sorry I forgot?!" PEOPLE ARE NUTS! these POOR CHILDREN in this world we live in now...I can't stand it. If you DONT want your children, put them up for adoption, have an abortion, something! don't just birth them, kill them, abuse them, neglect them...cuz they grow up to be physchotic mentally unstable people and the process repeats itself. God help us all. I see everyday drug addicted mothers with 3 children waiting for them while they are in prision or jail for making meth, using drugs, etc. I can't stand it.

                                  Reply#116 - Mon Oct 8, 2012 2:56 PM EDT

                                  I'm so tired of these kind of stories. I didn't even read the one about the drunk mom who killed all her kids then herself. As a mother I can't understand how you can kill anyone let alone an innocent child. It seems like I see stuff like this almost every week! We live in a very sad world.

                                  • 1 vote
                                  Reply#117 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 2:45 PM EDT

                                  I agree! Its heartbreaking to read about so much evil in the world. (im not religious, but Its the best way to describe these horrible people)

                                    #117.1 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 2:54 PM EDT
                                    Reply

                                    The only reason you would bury a child in your backyard is if you had something to hide. She is being investigated over concern for the 6 year old, another child? Obviously there are issues here. People can come across like whatever they want to the outside world. My friend's father was an abusive alchoholic but everyone loved him and thought they had the perfect family...That was the appearance. Some people are good actors. Once those doors close, you don't know what is going on. Also many women date pedophiles or abusers and allow the abuse to happen to their children and turn a blind eye or get involved themselves. I don't trust it. THE SAD thing is, minus finding a bullet, broken bones or a broken hyoid bone, they will never know cause of death.

                                    • 1 vote
                                    Reply#118 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 2:55 PM EDT

                                    Point 1 being at one point of time the parents of the older 2 children lived at this residence together , Now if the 3rd child who is deceased is not Rodriguez's where is baby Justin's father ? Which i am thinking at one point the mother and rodriguez broke up or the mother cheated and dispized justins Birth and killed him, then comes about of the neighbor wondering what happen to baby Justin? and then Diggs up the yard I mean I'm sorry I have small children and If one of my kids are in the bathroom too long they are asking where they are ?

                                    This is a very sad case and Im in shock over why the mother and rodriguez , + baby daddy are not being looked into ? and to all the others who said , what family does not give a point into a baby is missing I 100% agree . Plus I am sure they worked people knew she was pregnant at one point ?

                                      Reply#119 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 3:48 PM EDT

                                      Skipastar... "I will never understand why the people who call themselves pro-life do not get upset at this type of thing..."

                                      You've made a very broad generalization here, and I believe incredibly inaccurate. I suspect that most of us who are concerned for the lives of the unborn babies are also very disturbed when we hear of people murdering their children.

                                        Reply#120 - Tue Oct 9, 2012 4:21 PM EDT

                                        Her first response was to lie. Omission of guilt. Someone made a call to child protective services for the daughter/sister.. Second indicator something is wrong with these two..

                                        Sleep deprivation caused by excessive use of drugs and alcohol and poor diet... always seems to be somewhere in the equation. Add learned behavior of abusing others.

                                          Reply#121 - Wed Oct 10, 2012 5:33 AM EDT

                                          sounds like mormal lib. way law works body foundin backyard the boyfriend living their, mother living their, but look for someone else to blame . they need to arrest both mother and boyfreind. take rest of the kids away from them before they end of dead.

                                            Reply#122 - Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:37 AM EDT

                                            I wonder if the family was collecting benefits in his name for the last year and a half.

                                              Reply#123 - Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:34 PM EDT
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