Police Find Missing 4-Year-Old Marc Anthony Bookal Dead in Wooded Area

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Marc Anthony Bookal (Newburgh New York Police Dept.)

NEW YORK (CBS/WCBS) Police in Newburgh, N.Y. found the body of missing 4-year-old Marc Anthony Bookal on Wednesday after he disappeared from his home back in December, CBS affiliate WCBS reports.

Police found the boy's body in a wooded area after reopening the search early Wednesday morning. Police said they felt it necessary to go back and re-canvass some of the areas that were covered in deep snow during the colder winter months.

Marc's mother, Christina Bookal, told WCBS after his disappearance in December that she refused to give up hope, even keeping her son's Christmas gifts under a tree that she wouldn't take down.
<
"Until he comes home, it will stay up," Bookal said to the station.
<
Christina's live-in boyfriend, Cory Byrd, had been charged with child endangerment. Anthony had been in his care the day he disappeared, and now Byrd is in prison for a parole violation.

The search resumed for Bookal on Jan. 8 after extreme winter weather had made it difficult immediately after his disappearance. Authorities searched the grounds of a vacant school and other buildings several times, and also combed the entire block.

It is unknown why police decided to resume the search again on Wednesday, a seemingly random date, but sources believe they were provided a tip to canvass the area where the child was eventually found.

Story Contributed by CBS Affiliate WCBS

MORE ON CRIMESIDER
December 16, 2009 - Marc Anthony Bookal, 4, Missing: "I Just Want My Baby Home," Cries Mom

4 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by x0xBrookersx0x March 25, 2010 11:48 AM EDT: :( poor baby :( :(; Reply to this comment


by compton79 March 25, 2010 10:51 AM EDT: OMG.......THIS PUNK LOSER NEEDS TO LOCKED AWAY FOREVER !!!!!!! WHAT A PIECE OF %^$# !!!!!! I THINK THE BOYFRIENDS GET JEALOUS OF THE ATTENTION THAT THE CHILD GETS FROMTHE MOTHER AND SO THEY THINK THAT IF THE CHILD IS GONE THE MOTHER CAN GIVE ALL THE ATTENTION TO THEM....OK DO NOT GET INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH A WOMAN OR MAN THAT HAS CHILDREN IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE RESPONSIBILITY !!!! SOOOOOO SAD !!!!!!! MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY OF THIS BABY AND I PRAY THAT THIS MONSTER ROTS IN JAIL FOREVER !!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by Wildwood1966 March 25, 2010 9:28 AM EDT: another "live in boyfriend" entrusted with the baby you delivered into the world - how sad - I so agree with pak31 - when will we wise up? I am sure she has teh guilt but she won't get the punishment - hopefully they will be able to charge the "live in" who of course is already in jail. God bless these babies that go to heaven too soon.; Reply to this comment


by pak31 March 25, 2010 8:34 AM EDT: So sad. So preventable too if these so called mothers would stop leaving their precious children in the hands of criminals. Nancy Grace interviewed the mother back when he went missing and she just couldn't get a reasonable answer out of her as to why she entrusted the babysitting of a man who abused before. As long as we have ignorant adults then children will continue to be abused and or killed like Marc was. Common sense and a mothers love for her child should tell her that leaving her child with a man like Cory is a huge mistake, yet she did it anyway. I really feel that she should be punished for stupidity, or knowingly leaving a child in the hands of a criminal. I know that won't happen but it should.; Reply to this comment