SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- City police say identifying the remains of a young child found behind a State Street home, amid the search for a missing 4-month-old child, will "take an extended period of time."

The delay in the autopsy and identification of the child is due to the condition of the remains that were recovered behind 766 State Street, said Sgt. Matt Dearing. The discovery followed the location of 4-month-old Rayen Puleski's mother, Heaven, last Wednesday at a hotel on Nott Terrace.

"This may be something that moves a little slower, but we want to make sure that a thorough job and an accurate job is done," Dearing said.

Rayen’s whereabouts are still officially unknown, and police say the investigation is still open and active, with the assistance of the New York State Police. Police have previously said they cannot move forward in the investigation until they can definitively ID the body.

"I have that hope that he is still out there somewhere," said Lisa Dutcher, Heaven's aunt. "But unfortunately this is all too coincidental."

The child was last seen on camera July 17, according to family members. Dutcher says Rayen was under Child Protective Services.

According to police, they were contacted by CPS on Tuesday to checking in on Rayen and Heaven. Police say Heaven was located a day later at the Days Inn on Nott Terrace. They say detectives have interviewed her, but won't say where she is right now.

At this time, police say no one is in custody.