My heart breaks as I write this article. It is something I wasn’t exactly prepared for when I received notice about this precious 4 year old child’s remains being found. Marc had a smile on his face that is unforgettable. But now this precious child is gone. America has lost yet another innocent child. Newburgh New York has one less child living there.

I wrote about Marc Anthony Bookal’s disappearance on December 15th, 2009. He was left in the care of his mother’s boyfriend, Cory Byrd. The claim is that Byrd was getting ready to take M arc to a relative’s house but the front door was somehow left home and Byrd claims Marc must have walked out the door and he hasn’t been seen since.

Although police claim Byrd is not listed as a person of interest in Marc’s disappearance, they have charged him with endangering the welfare of a child. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office later decided to drop the child endangerment charges and by doing so it meant they didn’t have to reveal evidence obtained from different search warrants that could be used later if they decide to file more serious charges.

Byrd is now serving a 15 month sentence at the Downstate Correctional Facility for his parole violation.

30 year old Byrd was once arrested back in 1998 after his biological son had been admitted into the hospital with a fractured skull, broken ribs, a broken wrist and perforated liver but the man was only arrested for and charged with reckless endangerment in that case.

Marc reportedly had suffered from burns himself on his hands which his mother, Christina Bookal explained was the result from an accident but apparently some are very skeptical about that especially now.

According to the City of Newburgh Police, they are sure that the human remains found are indeed that of little Marc Anthony Bookal. During a news conference held at 5 p today it was stated that the boy’s body was found by a Sate Police cadaver search team about 11 am this morning in a wooded area off Colden Street between Renwick Street and South William Street.

An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday by Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.

I am sure that this has been really hard on Marc’s parents. Christina Bookal told CBS2 that she refused to give up hope. She was even keeping his Christmas gifts under the tree that she was refusing to take down. “Until he comes home, it will stay up,” she said. Christina has three other kids too that needs her to be there for them too but she says it is hard when one is gone, it’s not complete.  I know she is suffering but one has to ask why would this mother leave her child with a man that she knew had harmed his own baby when that child was only one year old and she still defends him. I just don’t understand this.

My prayers are with Marc’s family tonight and with Marc as well. I also pray that the monster that did this to this precious child is caught and punished to the full extent of the law and some. We all want the lost children found. Thinking of Haleigh Cummings and Adji Desir and all the other ones that are no where to be found, makes the tears water my eyes. Please God bring these children home!

Jan Barrett

Update: According to HLN’s Nancy Grace Marc was found inside a duffel bag only 2 blocks from his home. Nancy also says it was just announced that Cory Byrd has now been named as a possible person of interest. I will keep you up to date as I get the information.

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