Heaven Puleski, a Schenectady woman charged in connection with the August disappearance and death of her infant son Rayen, has a criminal history which dates back years.
Remains consistent with those of a child were found near State Street in Schenectady. According to court documents, Puleski, 38, allegedly concealed her infant son’s body in a plastic bag and hid it an overgrown grassy area.
Puleski appeared in court Wednesday morning on a Schenectady County grand jury indictment which was returned 10 weeks after Puleski was first arrested. The charges include murder, manslaughter, concealment of a human corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and endangering the welfare of a child. Her attorney entered not guilty pleas on all charges.
Puleski was previously being held on $20,000 cash bail. Because the nature of the charges has changed, she is now remanded without bail. Puleski's next court appearance is scheduled for January 7.
Documents from Niskayuna show Puleski was arrested in October 2013 for driving while intoxicated. When she was pulled over, police say they found drugs.
Colonie Police say they arrested Puleski in November 2015 after she stole $200 worth of jewelry. The arrest report shows she had heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana on her.
On February 1, 2016, less than three months later, Puleski would be arrested in Northumberland for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Police would again say she had drugs, leading to possession of marijuana and criminal possession of a controlled substance charges.
Two months later, Puleski was again arrested by police in Colonie. During a separate investigation, she was found with a drug dealer. She was charged with failing to appear in court on the November 2015 charge.
In a high-profile October 2016 arrest, Puleski was taken into custody by Gloversville police for an outstanding bench warrant out of Saratoga County. She would escape from the officer, and she was not located until the next day by Schenectady Police. She would enter a guilty plea and was sentenced to 10 months in jail. She served this sentence at the same time as one for driving while ability impaired in Saratoga County.
We know she left Saratoga County Jail on August 11, 2017. Her aunt says Rayen was born eight months later, on April 20, 2018 in Saratoga. By the end of June, family says both Puleski and Rayen moved into a Schenectady apartment.
Then weeks later, on July 17, Rayen would be last seen on surveillance video. A body consistent with that of a child was found weeks later behind the State Street apartment.