Edward Croley

A 14 year old boy's remains are found nearly a year after his disappearance
Edward “Mitt” Croley, an energetic 14-year-old Black male who loved playing Pop Warner football, was a familiar presence on the streets of his Albany, New York neighborhood. Remembered as a "bundle of energy" with dreams stretching beyond his city, his life was tragically cut short in the spring of 1991, leaving his family and community with decades of unanswered questions.

On the morning of March 24, 1991, after spending the night at his aunt’s house, Edward left for the Maywood School, a special education center in nearby Colonie. He was last seen near the intersection of Northern Boulevard and Livingston Avenue in Albany, but he never arrived at school. When he didn't return home, his family reported him missing. Initially, their concerns were met with suggestions that the slightly built, 5-foot-2-inch teenager might have been a runaway. His mother, however, launched her own determined search, hearing from some in the neighborhood that Edward may have been coerced into the world of drug trafficking, a significant issue in the area at the time.

For nearly ten months, there was no trace of Edward. The search came to a devastating end on January 8, 1992, when woodcutters discovered his skeletal remains in a wooded area off State Route 144 in the town of Coeymans, about 13 miles from where he was last seen. He was found wearing the clothes he had on the day he disappeared: a blue hooded pullover sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, and a dark blue t-shirt celebrating the New York Giants' Super Bowl XXV victory. A forensic examination determined that Edward had died from a severe skull fracture caused by blunt force trauma, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.

The New York State Police took charge of the investigation, assisted by the Albany Police Department. Over the years, investigators conducted extensive interviews and pursued various leads. One prominent theory that emerged was that Edward's murder was drug-related. This was based on information developed during interviews and the environment of his neighborhood. Investigators believed he may have been targeted for drugs or money, or for other reasons connected to local drug activity.

Years later, a person of interest emerged in the case: former professional boxer Jo-el Scott. Scott was a known figure in Albany with a history of violent crime. After he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the brutal 2004 rape and murder of a woman in Albany's Lincoln Park, investigators scrutinized him for a possible connection to Edward's death. It was reported that Scott had told police after his 2004 arrest that he had killed before. Despite the suspicion, he was never charged in connection with the Croley homicide. Scott was later killed in prison in 2018.

Decades have passed, but the murder of Edward "Mitt" Croley remains an open and active cold case for the New York State Police. Investigators continue to believe that someone in the community holds the key to solving the crime. They have periodically renewed public appeals for information, hoping that the passage of time will encourage someone to finally come forward with what they know.

As of 2024, no arrests have been made, and justice has not been found for the 14-year-old boy whose life was violently taken. His family continues to wait for answers and closure. New York State Crime Stoppers has previously offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. Anyone with information regarding the case is urged to contact the New York State Police at 518-783-3211, referencing case #92-010.