Jaylen Griffin: Dead boy’s father questions why he ‘wasn’t notified’ about discovery of son’s body but admits to finally getting closure
BUFFALO, NEW YORK: Authorities found 12-year-old Jaylen Griffin's severely decomposed body in an attic, devastatingly ending the gruesome search for him after he disappeared in Buffalo, New York, on August 4, 2020.
Griffin's family, the police, and local authorities had been looking for him for the past four years. Jaylen Griffin’s father, Brian Griffin reacted to the discovery of his missing son's dead body.
Dental records were used to confirm that the body was of Jaylen Griffin
12-year-old Jaylen was last seen on August 4, 2020. He disappeared into a corner store after leaving his East Side house on Warren Avenue. The Buffalo Police Special Victims Unit has been handling the case with assistance from the State Police and FBI, according to wivb.
“They conducted that investigation that began immediately, which included a significant amount of, an exhaustive efforts, searching numerous homes, locations searching with cadaver dogs, fields, they also conducted coordinated grid searches,” said Joseph Gramaglia, the Buffalo Police commissioner.
Local associations have conducted independent searches both within the city and outside the state.
Pastor Tim Newkirk of GYC Ministries said, "I'm reminded by his mother Joann Ponzo, who on her dying bed said don't stop looking for my son." Newkirk and his team have conducted multiple ground searches for Jaylen.
On Friday, April 19, police in South Buffalo responded to a report of a dead body in the 100 block of Sheffield Avenue, and that was the end of the search for Jaylen.
“It’s an occupied structure that somebody was in the house with a valid reason,” Gramaglia said.
Dental records were used to confirm that the body, which the police claim had been there for a long time, was indeed that of Jaylen Griffin. There have been no takedowns.
"But now, we have more questions, who was so inhumanely disgusting to kill a baby,” stated Kareema Morris of Bury the Violence, an additional group that has been assisting Jaylen's family in their search.
Jaylen’s father, Brian Griffin questions why he wasn't notified
Brian, Jaylen's father, also wants justice. “They say they found the body Friday, why wasn’t I notified?” questioned Brian Griffin.
"We all don't know how long Jaylen has been deceased, so I'm sure there would have been some kind of odor," he also raises concerns about the occupants of the house where Jaylen was discovered.
According to Brian Griffin, "Now that I have confirmation, I do feel a lot better," he said having found some closure.
According to the prosecution, an autopsy by the Medical Examiner's Office may take several months. A $7,500 reward remains in place for any information that results in an arrest.
The Griffin family has experienced multiple tragedies: Jaylen's brother was shot and killed not long after Jaylen went missing, and his mother died of a broken heart.
Jaylen's 16th birthday falls on Monday of next week, April 29. At 6 pm, there will be a candlelight vigil for Jaylen at Memorial and Paderewski drives.
