A 15-year-old boy charged with murder in Saugerties has been identified by police as Mark J. Wanchik II.

Wanchik is accused of causing the death of Elena Bonjolo, 88, of West Camp Road, who was found dead outside an abandoned residence in West Camp on Sunday, June 7, Saugerties police said.

Bonjolo died sometime between 9:25 a.m. and 1:52 p.m., according to police. Her cause of death was determined to be blunt impact injuries to the head and neck, police said.

Police said they first learned of the possible homicide when Wanchik was brought to the police station by family members. Officers responded to 25 John Shults Road, where they found Bonjolo dead outside the abandoned residence.

Bonjolo lived near Wanchik and was not related to him, but the two knew each other, police said.

Wanchik was charged with second-degree murder, a felony. Police said he is being treated as a juvenile offender because he is 15 and is accused of committing second-degree murder.

He was arraigned early Monday morning by an accessible magistrate in Saugerties and remanded to a secure facility, where he remains, police said.

Police previously said additional charges were expected.

Saugerties police are being assisted by state police and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation remains active.

Connor Greco is a staff reporter at The Overlook. Send correspondence to connor@theoverlooknews.com.