Buffalo residents ask if Jaylen Griffin's body 'was moved' after discovery in previously-searched attic

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

BUFFALO, NY: Residents of Buffalo are expressing alarm as details emerge about the history of police's visits to the attic where the body of 12-year-old Jaylen Griffin was discovered after a nearly four-year search.

The quiet neighborhood of South Buffalo was shaken when Jaylen's body was found at 107 Sheffield Ave on Friday, April 12, sparking a homicide investigation into his death.

He had last been seen near his Warren Avenue home on August 4, 2020, before being reported missing two days later. Despite extensive efforts by both the community and law enforcement to locate Jaylen, including the distribution of flyers and thorough searches throughout the city, the boy remained missing for months. Tragically, the search ended when his body was found inside the Sheffield Avenue residence.

Questions arise about circumstances surrounding tragedy

Neighbors, who were stunned by the tragedy, had never noticed anything amiss in the area. Pastor Tim Newkirk of GYC ministry, acting as the family's spokesperson, raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Jaylen's discovery.

"How did he end up here? Was he moved?" Pastor Newkirk questioned. "The questions are still remaining. How long was he dead? How long was he deceased? Was he found in something that was locked and had to be open?"

"That is certain to come out in searches. That was a major complaint to this community. This seems like a community where anything is taking place, somebody, you know, somebody will report it or say something," reported News Nation. 

Insights into Jaylen Griffin's disappearance 

Jaylen's body was found in the attic of the Sheffield Avenue residence by a maintenance worker, prompting immediate police response. Despite the lack of a decomposing odor, the body's advanced state of decomposition required confirmation of Jaylen's identity through dental records.

"The body that was located in the house had been there for a significant amount of time," Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said in a press conference on April 15.

Meanwhile, Crime Stoppers is offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of Jaylen's killer.