| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
BODY DISCOVERED IN KINDERHOOK
DECEMBER 1, 2007
Kinderhook, NY Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that his Office was contacted yesterday, November 30,
2007, at about 11:25AM after a body was discovered in an abandoned house on County Rte 21 in the Town of
Kinderhook. The house, which is known as the Clark Sister's House, has been abandoned for several years. It
was being inspected by a neighbor, John Knott and members of NYS Historic Preservation regarding the
possibility of obtaining ownership and restoring it. While in the basement of the house, the individuals discovered
the remains of a body. They left the residence and the Sheriff's Office was contacted.
Sheriff Harrison said that the body appears to have been in the basement for a substantial amount of time. A
positive identification will not be made and the cause of death determined until Evidence Technicians can process
the scene and an Autopsy is performed. However, due to what Investigators observed while in the basement
initially, the possibility that the body is that of 57 year old Kristina Karnilova of Boston, MA, who is missing from
Kinderhook since the evening of May 22, 2006, after walking away from her car at the Stewarts store on NYS Rte
9, approximately one mile from the Clark House, has not been ruled out.
The Sheriff reports that the house had been condemned by the Town in July of 2007. He said that after arriving
at the scene, it was quickly determined that the house and basement area was not safe for Investigators and
Evidence Technicians to work safely in. Kinderhook Town Supervisor Doug McGivney and County Director of
Department of Public Works Dave Robinson were contacted and both provided support personnel to assist in
making the basement safe. Kinderhook Code Enforcement Officer Glenn Smith, Highway Superintendent John
Reuschel and County Engineers Dave Robinson, Dean Knox and Joe Iuviene responded to the scene. Smith and
the Engineers inspected the site and developed a plan to make the area safe. Friday evening, carpenters from
Cavagnaro Construction were in the basement area with Deputy Sheriffs, working to make it safe.
The scene was maintained by the Sheriff's Office all night and Saturday, December 1, 2007, at 8:00AM,
Investigators and Evidence Technicians began processing the basement area and removal of the body. Coroner
Angelo Nero was on scene both days and is working with the Sheriff's Office in the investigation.
At about 1:00PM, the body was removed by Sheriff's Crime Scene Technicians and Coroner Nero and was
transported to St. Peter's Hospital pending an autopsy by Pathologist Jeffrey Hubbard to be conducted Sunday,
December 2nd.
At this time it appears that the body is that of a female. Additionally, Investigators have found nothing that would
indicate foul play, however the investigation is continuing and further forensic investigation is being conducted.
Along with the Sheriff, Coroner and others mentioned above being at the scene, Undersheriff James Sweet,
Captain David Bartlett, Lieutenant James Andrews, Sr/Investigators Kevin Skype and William Foster, Investigator
John Rivero, Sergeant Michael Merante and Deputy Sheriffs Toby VanAlstyne and Scott Leggett were at the
scene as well.
DECEMBER 1, 2007
Kinderhook, NY Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that his Office was contacted yesterday, November 30,
2007, at about 11:25AM after a body was discovered in an abandoned house on County Rte 21 in the Town of
Kinderhook. The house, which is known as the Clark Sister's House, has been abandoned for several years. It
was being inspected by a neighbor, John Knott and members of NYS Historic Preservation regarding the
possibility of obtaining ownership and restoring it. While in the basement of the house, the individuals discovered
the remains of a body. They left the residence and the Sheriff's Office was contacted.
Sheriff Harrison said that the body appears to have been in the basement for a substantial amount of time. A
positive identification will not be made and the cause of death determined until Evidence Technicians can process
the scene and an Autopsy is performed. However, due to what Investigators observed while in the basement
initially, the possibility that the body is that of 57 year old Kristina Karnilova of Boston, MA, who is missing from
Kinderhook since the evening of May 22, 2006, after walking away from her car at the Stewarts store on NYS Rte
9, approximately one mile from the Clark House, has not been ruled out.
The Sheriff reports that the house had been condemned by the Town in July of 2007. He said that after arriving
at the scene, it was quickly determined that the house and basement area was not safe for Investigators and
Evidence Technicians to work safely in. Kinderhook Town Supervisor Doug McGivney and County Director of
Department of Public Works Dave Robinson were contacted and both provided support personnel to assist in
making the basement safe. Kinderhook Code Enforcement Officer Glenn Smith, Highway Superintendent John
Reuschel and County Engineers Dave Robinson, Dean Knox and Joe Iuviene responded to the scene. Smith and
the Engineers inspected the site and developed a plan to make the area safe. Friday evening, carpenters from
Cavagnaro Construction were in the basement area with Deputy Sheriffs, working to make it safe.
The scene was maintained by the Sheriff's Office all night and Saturday, December 1, 2007, at 8:00AM,
Investigators and Evidence Technicians began processing the basement area and removal of the body. Coroner
Angelo Nero was on scene both days and is working with the Sheriff's Office in the investigation.
At about 1:00PM, the body was removed by Sheriff's Crime Scene Technicians and Coroner Nero and was
transported to St. Peter's Hospital pending an autopsy by Pathologist Jeffrey Hubbard to be conducted Sunday,
December 2nd.
At this time it appears that the body is that of a female. Additionally, Investigators have found nothing that would
indicate foul play, however the investigation is continuing and further forensic investigation is being conducted.
Along with the Sheriff, Coroner and others mentioned above being at the scene, Undersheriff James Sweet,
Captain David Bartlett, Lieutenant James Andrews, Sr/Investigators Kevin Skype and William Foster, Investigator
John Rivero, Sergeant Michael Merante and Deputy Sheriffs Toby VanAlstyne and Scott Leggett were at the
scene as well.