A 16-year-old boy was found dead in Thornden Park Friday morning by a local woman walking her dog.

The unidentified woman called Syracuse Police at 9:42 a.m. reporting that she had found the boy in the snow after her dog diverted from the path they were walking on, said Lt. Joe Cecile of the Syracuse Police.

Cecile said the boy had suffered physical trauma, but could not say what kind until a medical examination was completed.

The boy’s body was taken to the medical examiner late Friday afternoon, and the cause of death should be released Saturday, Cecile said.

The boy was identified several hours after he was found, but his identity was not released Friday evening because police could not reach the boy’s next of kin, Cecile said. Cecile said the boy was an East Syracuse resident.

Syracuse Police blocked off the northern section of Thornden Park, where the boy’s body was found, from about 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Police were seen searching the area on foot during this time.

No suspects or witnesses have been found, but Cecile said detectives have been questioning residents in the area by knocking on doors and asking if any suspicious noises were heard.

‘Detectives in the area talked to anyone who would answer their door,’ Cecile said. ‘They talked to hundreds of people.’

Published on March 5, 2005 at 12:00 pm