The aunt of a Schenectady woman charged in connection with the death of her infant son this summer, wants to take custody of the child’s remains. 

Lisa Dutcher says she has filed documents in Schenectady County Court to take possession of the remains of Rayen Puleski. The four-month-old is believed to have died in August. That is when a body was found in plastic bags in a Schenectady backyard.

But, those remains have not officially been identified as Rayen's.

In the meantime, his mother, Heaven Puleski, was charged with concealing a human corpse and tampering with evidence. She is being held at the Schenectady County Jail. 

Dutcher says right now the District Attorney’s office has possession of Rayen’s remains because it is considered evidence. Dutcher says she wants to give Rayen a proper burial. 

“He needs to rest. He had such a tough life. I tried to help when I was allowed to. My heart is broken, literally broken. I feel pain in my heart every day over this," Dutcher said.

Dutcher says Puleski gave her permission to take possession of Rayen’s remains but never signed the necessary paperwork. Now a judge would need to approve that. 

Dutcher hopes to have an answer next week but would still need to wait until criminal proceedings for Puleski are complete to bury Rayen.