STOCKHOLM -- The remains of two elderly people found buried at the property where they lived have been identified, New York State Police said Tuesday afternoon. After finding a second body buried at …
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STOCKHOLM -- The remains of two elderly people found buried at the property where they lived have been identified, New York State Police said Tuesday afternoon.
After finding a second body buried at 733 May Rd. Monday, state police completed their execution of a search warrant for the property today, according to a state police statement.
The remains have been positively identified as Alvin S. Babcock, age 84, and his wife, Betty D. Babcock, age 82, both of Stockholm. The cause and manner of death are pending further investigation, investigators said in a statement this afternoon.
A search warrant had been issued Wednesday, March 19 for the May Road property, just beyond the Potsdam town line.
A third resident of the property, Robert Bartlett, has allegedly told investigators he had buried one of the bodies, but that he had killed neither of them.
A first set of remains had been unearthed last Friday, March 21, in a concrete-lined wooden box, according to news reports.
Investigators said their work had been hampered by the snow and cold over the weekend.
But on Monday, they revealed that a second set of remains had been discovered.
St. Lawrence County Coroner Jamie Sienkiewycz responded on both dates and authorized removal of the remains to Albany Medical Center for autopsies, which were performed today by forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Sikirica. His findings have not been publicly reported.
The investigation is ongoing. No charges had been filed against Bartlett, according to WWNY-tv news.
The investigation is being conducted by the New York State Police in conjunction with St. Lawrence County District Attorney Mary Rain.
The Troop B Forensic Identification Unit, along with the Troop B Violent Crimes Investigation Team, and State Police from Canton, assisted in the search.
They said they were grateful for the help they got from the Town of Stockholm, St. Lawrence Gas, New York State Electric and Gas, Perras Excavating, Merriman Lumber, Enbridge/St. Lawrence Gas, Diamond Propane, and the U.S. Border Patrol.