A 13-year-old Kansas boy who vanished on Sunday was found dead on Monday in a creek bed in Missouri.
Linn County, Kansas, police said Airen Andula was last seen near Pleasanton. Linn County Sheriff James Akes told WDAF that Andula was reported missing on Sunday evening, sparking a search of a wooded area in Missouri, as well as trailers, homes, and outbuildings in a lake community.
Crews suspended their search early Monday due to dangerous conditions. They eventually resumed their search, resulting in the discovery of Andula’s body in a ravine across the Missouri state line.
On Monday, Damon Leonard, 47, allegedly called Bates County police and told them he knew Andula’s whereabouts and that he was dead. Deputy Sheriff Amy Fishbaugh said Leonard confessed to transporting the teen’s body from Kansas to Missouri and leaving him in a creek bed in Bates County, according to KCTV.
Leonard’s connection to Andula was not disclosed. However, KCTV reported that Leonard lives in Pleasanton, which was not far from where Andula was seen riding his bike before he vanished on Sunday.
Andula’s cause of death was not disclosed.
Leonard has pleaded not guilty to felony abandonment of a corpse. He remains jailed on $100,000 cash-only bond as he awaits a January 15 court date.
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[Feature Photo: Linn County police]
