The town of Buffalo, New York, was left reeling by the discovery of the body of 12-year-old Jaylen Griffin in the attic of a home in South Buffalo on Friday, April 12, 2024, after nearly four years of relentless searching.
Griffin was last seen on August 4, 2020, near his home on Warren Avenue, on his way to a local corner store. His return journey, unfortunately, never took place. The child’s remains were found by a maintenance worker carrying out routine checks in an apartment house. Dental records confirmed the identity of the remains, and local police verified that they had been in the attic of a house located 4.5 miles away for a considerable time.
The home at 107 Sheffield Avenue, where the body was found, has seen frequent police visits for various reasons over the years. The news of the gruesome discovery in the attic shocked the neighborhood. Despite the house’s history of frequent change of tenants and law enforcement visits, neighbors claimed they were oblivious to any signs that could hint at the grim secret the attic held.
Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia of the Buffalo Police Department confirmed Griffin’s identification and said, “We are deeply saddened by this discovery and are committed to bringing justice to Jaylen and his family.”
Sadly, Griffin’s mother, Joanne Ponzo, 48, passed away in September, unaware of her son’s fate. She spent her last days urging loved ones to continue the search for her son. The family tragedy was compounded three months after Jaylen’s disappearance when his 18-year-old brother, Jawaan, was fatally shot.
Pastor Tim Newkirk, involved with the search efforts for the Griffin family, expressed his sorrow and resolve at a local vigil: “We’ve found Jaylen, but now we need to find out what happened to him. This is not just a case of a missing boy; it’s a question of justice for a life cut tragically short.”
The Buffalo Police Department is ramping up its investigation, aided by Crime Stoppers, which is offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to the resolution of the case. Meanwhile, the local community continues to rally around the tragedy, hosting memorials and vigils to remember Jaylen and his tragically abbreviated life.
