| 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 FOUND IN KINDERHOOK IDENTIFIED
DECEMBER 3, 2007
After an Autopsy concluded today, December 3, 2007, by Pathologist Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard, the remains of a
woman discovered on November 30, 2007 in an abandoned house on Co. Rte 21 in Kinderhook, has been
positively identified as Kristina Karnilova of Boston, MA. Karnilova has been missing from Kinderhook since the
evening of May 22, 2006, after walking away from her car at the Stewarts Store on NYS Rte 9 at about 8:30PM in
the evening. Dental records, a pocketbook with identification and personal papers found with the remains
assisted in making the identification.
Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. said that Karnilova’s family members were contacted in Boston on Friday November
30th and informed that the remains may be those of Kristina. They were notified this afternoon that the positive
identification has been made.
He said that the cause of death is “Undetermined”, however Dr. Hubbard found no indication of foul play and
Homicide has been ruled out. Additionally, the Sheriff said that the Sheriff’s Office investigation, including a
search of the area where the remains were found, did not find any evidence of foul play as well. He said that
Coroner Angelo Nero has been involved in the investigation also.
The Sheriff said that prior to Ms. Karnilova leaving Boston in May of 2006 and then seen walking from the
Stewarts Store in Kinderhook, she had been under the care of a mental health counselor. Ms. Karnilova had
mentioned taking her own life in the past. He said that she had requested that a local individual whom she met at
Stewarts on May 22, 2006, but did not know personally, mail an envelope addressed a family member in Boston.
The letter contained money and said goodbye.
The Sheriff said that the area of Kinderhook where the abandoned house is located was searched in May of 2006
during a massive search by the Sheriff’s Office, State Police, Forest Rangers and Firefighters. He does not have
information that the house itself was searched, however if searchers had approached the house at that time they
would have found the house in the same condition that it is in now. He said that its unknown if Ms. Karnilova was
in the house at the time of the search or went there at a later time as there were possible sightings of her in other
areas of Kinderhook.
Sheriff Harrison said that everyone associated with this case feels that Ms. Karnilova took her own life. He said
that the case will be closed barring the discovery of any new evidence.
DECEMBER 3, 2007
After an Autopsy concluded today, December 3, 2007, by Pathologist Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard, the remains of a
woman discovered on November 30, 2007 in an abandoned house on Co. Rte 21 in Kinderhook, has been
positively identified as Kristina Karnilova of Boston, MA. Karnilova has been missing from Kinderhook since the
evening of May 22, 2006, after walking away from her car at the Stewarts Store on NYS Rte 9 at about 8:30PM in
the evening. Dental records, a pocketbook with identification and personal papers found with the remains
assisted in making the identification.
Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. said that Karnilova’s family members were contacted in Boston on Friday November
30th and informed that the remains may be those of Kristina. They were notified this afternoon that the positive
identification has been made.
He said that the cause of death is “Undetermined”, however Dr. Hubbard found no indication of foul play and
Homicide has been ruled out. Additionally, the Sheriff said that the Sheriff’s Office investigation, including a
search of the area where the remains were found, did not find any evidence of foul play as well. He said that
Coroner Angelo Nero has been involved in the investigation also.
The Sheriff said that prior to Ms. Karnilova leaving Boston in May of 2006 and then seen walking from the
Stewarts Store in Kinderhook, she had been under the care of a mental health counselor. Ms. Karnilova had
mentioned taking her own life in the past. He said that she had requested that a local individual whom she met at
Stewarts on May 22, 2006, but did not know personally, mail an envelope addressed a family member in Boston.
The letter contained money and said goodbye.
The Sheriff said that the area of Kinderhook where the abandoned house is located was searched in May of 2006
during a massive search by the Sheriff’s Office, State Police, Forest Rangers and Firefighters. He does not have
information that the house itself was searched, however if searchers had approached the house at that time they
would have found the house in the same condition that it is in now. He said that its unknown if Ms. Karnilova was
in the house at the time of the search or went there at a later time as there were possible sightings of her in other
areas of Kinderhook.
Sheriff Harrison said that everyone associated with this case feels that Ms. Karnilova took her own life. He said
that the case will be closed barring the discovery of any new evidence.