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Island Noir: Beyond the Palm Trees
Island Noir Podcast, hosted by Nya Starr, dives into impactful crimes affecting marginalized people around the world—past and present. Every episode honors the victims, uncovers truth, and amplifies resilience.
Unseen victims. Untold truths. Uncovered resilience.
Island Noir: Beyond the Palm Trees
Jaliek's Note
Jaliek Rainwalker was just 12 when he disappeared from Greenwich, New York, in 2007.
Labeled "troubled" and shuffled between adoptive homes, Jaliek left behind a cryptic note—and vanished.
This episode explores the unanswered questions, shifting stories, and haunting behaviors that followed.
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A troubled past, a young boy searching for love and a case that remains open after more than a decade this is the story of Jalik Rainwalker, a 12-year-old boy who vanished without a trace in 2007. Warning this podcast explores true crime cases and may include descriptions of violence and other sensitive topics. Listener discretion is advised. November 2, 2007. Green Ridge, new York, a quiet village nestled in Washington County. On this day, a 12-year-old boy named Jalik Rainwalker was reported missing at 8.57 am. The report came from his adoptive father, stephen Kerr. Kerr told authorities that Jalik had spent the previous night with him at a vacant home on Hill Street owned by Kerr's parents. According to Kerr, the home was unoccupied and only the two of them were there. When Kerr woke up early that morning, he claimed Jalik was gone. Kerr also stated he discovered a note written in Jalik's handwriting around 7.30 am. The note read Dear Everybody, I'm sorry for everything. I won't be a bother anymore. Goodbye, jalik. At first glance it seemed like a classic runaway case, a troubled child leaving behind an apology letter, but as details began to emerge, doubts quickly surfaced about this explanation. The last confirmed sighting of Jalik was on the evening of November 1st at the home of his adoptive paternal grandparents, jalik and Kerr, were the only ones in the house that night. By the morning, the 12-year-old boy had vanished. The details of that morning raises as many questions as they answer. Why did Kerr take Jalik to a vacant home rather than returning him to the family's residence? Was the note truly a farewell message from Jalik, or was there more to this story? Or was there more to this story? These questions and the lack of immediate answers would mark the beginning of an investigation filled with suspicion, inconsistencies and heartbreak.
Speaker 1:Jalik Rainwalker's story begins on August 2, 1995, in Albany, new York. From the very moment he entered the world, his life was marked by challenges. Born to a cocaine-addicted, alcoholic mother, jalik was exposed to substances in the womb that would impact him for the rest of his life. Prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol can cause a range of developmental and behavioral issues in children. These effects often include difficulties with emotional regulation, cognitive impairments and increased likelihood of attachment disorders, all of which would play a significant role in Jalik's life. Within days of his birth, jalik was placed into foster care, where he would spend the next seven years. During this time, he moved through six different foster homes, each one offering varying levels of support and stability. One of his longest stays was with Larry and Jodi Sean, who cared for Jalik for four years. The Seans described him as a bright, loving and generous child. Despite these admirable qualities, they also noted that he struggled deeply with emotional and behavioral challenges.
Speaker 1:Jalik had been diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, a condition that occurs when a child is unable to form healthy attachment with caregivers, often due to early neglect or inconsistent care. This disorder can manifest in severe outbursts, difficulty trusting others and an overwhelming need for control. Although the Shons received specialized training to care for children with special needs, jalik's outbursts proved particularly difficult to manage. At times, these episodes could last up to an hour and during them he would physically lash out at others. Despite their best efforts, they often found it impossible to console him. They often found it impossible to console him. There were moments that revealed his incredible potential. Once Jalik learned to read, he devoured books, sometimes finishing one a day. He loved playing soccer, running outside and exploring his passions for dinosaurs running outside and exploring his passions for dinosaurs. These glimmers of joy and intelligence made it clear that Jalik was a special child, even as he battled his inner turmoil. Sadly, as Jalik grew older, his violent tendencies escalated, creating an unsafe environment for the Shones family. The breaking point came when Jalik attacked their younger daughter during one of his outbursts. Faced with the heartbreaking reality that they could no longer provide the care he needed they could no longer provide the care he needed the Shones made the difficult decision to not move forward with the adoption and place him with another family.
Speaker 1:Jalik's next placement was with Stephen Kerr and his wife, jocelyn McDonald, who had three biological sons and one adopted daughter, who had three biological sons and one adopted daughter. From the outside, this appeared to be an ideal home for a young boy seeking stability, a family of a mix of biological and adopted children who might be able to provide the support and love he needed. But appearances can be very deceiving and the dynamics within the Kerr McDonald household would soon raise questions about whether this was truly the right place for Jalik. Jalik Rainwalker's life with his adoptive family was anything but conventional. At the time of his disappearance he lived with Stephen Kerr and Jocelyn McDonald and their other children in, I guess, mata's home in Casa Lluna, new York. I say Mata's home, but it's an understatement. The home itself was small, described as more of a shack or cabin than an actual traditional house Measuring approximately 20 feet by 20 feet. The entire family slept together in a single room. There was no indoor plumbing, no television and only limited electricity provided by a generator that ran for a few hours each day. The family stated that they chose this lifestyle intentionally, believing it was better for the environment. Believing it was better for the environment, but this environment, paired with Jalik's escalating emotional and behavioral struggles, created significant tension within the household. Over the five years Jalik spent with the Kerr-McDonald family, his outbursts became more frequent and severe. No-transcript.
Speaker 1:A week before Jalik disappeared, on October 23, 2007, stephen Kerr reached out to the crisis hotline in desperation. He told the worker that Jalik was unmanageable and had recently threatened another child in their homeschool group. Their homeschool group, according to the crisis worker, jocelyn McDonald was afraid of Jalik and no longer wanted him in their home. The couple asked whether it was possible to reverse the adoption and have Jalik removed from their care. The answer was no. Adoption. The answer was no. Adoption, as they were told, is permanent. The crisis worker instead recommended respite care, temporary placement with another family trained to handle children with emotional and behavioral challenges. Jalik was sent to live with Elaine and Tom Person, a couple who had previously provided care for him and were experienced in working with children with attachment disorders. By all accounts, jalik seemed to settle into the Person household, but this arrangement was always intended to be temporary.
Speaker 1:On November 1st 2007, stephen Kerr picked Jalik up from the Person's home. The family planned to send him to another respite provider the following day, but that day would never come. Jalik disappeared the night of November 1st. His family dynamics, from the unconventional living conditions to the growing tensions, jalik's environment wasn't one of safety and support, and I think it was pushing him further into isolation and despair. As we delve deeper into the investigation, you will soon come to share the same sentiment.
Speaker 1:When 12-year-old Jalik Rainwalker was reported missing on the morning of November 2, 2007, authorities initially treated the case as a runaway situation. Stephen Kerr, his adoptive father, told police that he had woken up to find Jalit gone from the vacant family-owned home where they had spent the night. A note allegedly written by Jalit was left behind reading Dear Everybody, I'm sorry for everything. I won't be a bother anymore. Goodbye, signed Jalik.
Speaker 1:At first glance, it seemed to support Kerr's claim that Jalik had simply run away, but as investigators looked deeper, cracks begin to form in that narrative, cambridge Greenwich Police Chief, george Bell, wasted no time reaching out for assistance. Local and state law enforcement, including the New York State Police, washington County Sheriff's Office and even the FBI, joined the search. The investigation was one of the most extensive in Washington County's history. Teams scoured miles of ground, including the Battenkill River and the Hudson River, hoping for any sign of Jalik, but nothing was found no footprints, no torn clothing, no personal belongings.
Speaker 1:Then came the first major red flag when investigators retraced Stephen Kerr's steps on the night of Jalik's disappearance, inconsistencies began to emerge. Began to emerge. Kerr had told police he drove straight from the respite home in Albany County, stopped for dinner at Red Robin in Latham and then returned to the vacant home in Greenwich where he and Jalik spent the night. Cell phone records told a different story. Cell tower triangulation placed Kerr in a location he never mentioned to police, somewhere between Albany and Greenwich. Surveillance footage also contradicted his timeline, showing a vehicle matching his van driving through Main Street in Greenwich when he claimed he was elsewhere.
Speaker 1:Then there was the polygraph. When authorities asked her to take a lie detector test, he refused. His wife, jocelyn McDonald, agreed to one, but unfortunately she failed. If your child is missing. Wouldn't you do everything in your power to help authorities? I know I would. Now, why are you refusing to take a polygraph and why move out of state just four months after the disappearance of your son? Because that's exactly what Kerr and McDonald did. They left their home in East Greenwich and relocated to West Rupert, vermont, cutting off all communication with both law enforcement and Jalik's adoptive maternal grandmother, barbara Reilly.
Speaker 1:In contrast to his adoptive parents' actions, there have been a continuous effort by those who truly cared about Jalik Barbara Reilly, his grandmother immediately filed for custody after his disappearance, hoping to provide him with a stable home. Elaine and Tom Person, the couple who had provided respite care, also remained involved, speaking to authorities and publicly challenging Kerr's version of events, while his adoptive father and mother distanced themselves. These individuals fought to keep Jalik's story alive. These individuals fought to keep Jalik's story alive. Suspicions against Kerr grew stronger In January 2008,. Police officially named him a person of interest, citing his lack of cooperation and inconsistencies in his statements. That same year, authorities obtained a search warrant and seized a computer from the police, claiming the search was unlawful and that they had been harassed. Then, in a bizarre twist, local media outlets received an anonymous note that read Jalik is still alive. Needed a foot soldier for this war on drugs. There was no evidence to support this claim and, to this day, the origin of the note remains unknown.
Speaker 1:In December 2012, five years after Jalik was last seen, authorities reclassified his case as a probable homicide homicide. By that point, the possibility that he had run away and survived on his own had all but been ruled out. Adding another layer of complexity, kerr insisted that Jalik had run away because he strongly identified with his African-American heritage and had expressed a desire to live with a Black family or listen to this join a gang. There was no evidence, and there has never been evidence, to support this claim. Yet this question remains what really happened to Jalik Rainwalker? The more you examine the details of this case, the harder it becomes to believe that a 12-year-old left on their own and managed to survive for this long. His troubled home life and the bizarre actions of his parents moving away after their son's disappearance and cursed stories about his whereabouts don't match up, and it all points to something far more sinister Beyond law enforcement.
Speaker 1:Many in the public have developed their own theories about Jalik's disappearance. Online discussions, particularly on platforms like Reddit and Facebook have examined the inconsistencies in Kerr's story, the dynamics within the household and the failures of the system that should have protected Jalik. Some have questioned why Kurt and McDonald adopted him in the first place, suggesting they may not have fully understood or been prepared for his emotional struggles, and, when the situation became too much for his adoptive parents, they sought a permanent way out. One local resident recalled seeing Kerr frequently before he left the area, describing him as creepy all around. Another commenter who works with at-risk youth noted how exhausting it can be to care for children with complex emotional needs, speculating that Kerr and McDonald may have seen Jalik as a threat to their other children and taken matters into their own hands. Each of these theories presents a different version of the truth, but one fact remains clear Jalik Rainwalker has been missing for over a decade and the answers remain elusive.
Speaker 1:Jalik Rainwalker's disappearance left an undeniable mark on the Greenwich community. For years, residents, advocates and law enforcement have worked tirelessly to uncover the truth. Posters were displayed, online forums were created and search efforts continued. Unlined forms were created and search efforts continued, each a testament to the unwavering commitment to finding answers. His adoptive maternal grandmother, barbara Reilly, has been one of his fiercest advocates ensuring his name is not forgotten. She has organized events, given interviews and collaborated with law enforcement, keeping the case alive.
Speaker 1:In October 2024, human remains were discovered near Burden Pond in Troy, new York. Near Burden Pond in Troy, new York, briefly renewing speculation. However, authorities later confirmed they were not Jalik's. Despite this, hope remains. Social media groups and online forums continue to share updates, theories and support. While media coverage share updates, theories and support. While media coverage, documentaries, news reports and podcasts help keep Jalik's story in the public eye, the goal remains the same Raise awareness, find answers and seek justice. As the years pass, the community's resilience and law enforcement's dedication serve as a powerful testament.
Speaker 1:Jalik Rainwalker's story is not and will not be forgotten. This case is far from over and the search for the truth continues. Before we close, I want to remind everyone listening Jalik Rainwalker was a child. He was 12 years old, a young boy with green eyes and a light complexion, standing just 5'6" and weighing 105 pounds. He has been missing since November 1st 2007. And the last person to have seen him was Stephen Kerr.
Speaker 1:Someone out there knows the truth. I can't imagine what it's like to live with the secret, to carry the weight of knowing what happened to Jalik? Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe it was fear, but silence is a choice. That choice keeps an innocent child lost in the shadows of uncertainty. There are people who truly care, who have never stopped searching and who want the best for him, no matter the outcome. If you know something, now is the time to speak up. Do not let this weigh on your conscience any longer. Do the right thing. If you have any information, please contact the New York State Police at 1-800-GIVE-TIP, the Greenwich Police Department at 518-692-9332, or send an email to crimetip at troopersnewyorkgov. Your silence could mean the difference between answers and a case that remains open.
