13-year-old boy found dead after being reported missing Sunday

By Roger Sims

linncountyjournal@cloud.com

MOUND CITY – The Linn County Sheriff's Office on Monday evening, Dec. 22, reported on social media that a 13-year-old boy, first reported missing on Sunday, was found dead.

The boy was last seen Sunday morning when he left a residence in the Holiday Lakes development to feed a neighbor’s dog. When he had not returned by evening, his family contacted the sheriff’s office, sparking an intense search by deputies and firefighters from the Linn County Fire Department.

The boy’s body was discovered on Monday afternoon, and his family was notified of his death shortly after 3 p.m.

The sheriff’s office issued a release on its Facebook page about 6 p.m. on Monday.

“It is with profound sadness that the Linn County Sheriff’s Office confirms that a juvenile who was previously reported missing has been found deceased,” the release said. “Our community is mourning this heartbreaking loss. The family has been notified, and we respectfully ask that their privacy be honored as they grieve. Out of consideration for the family, no further details will be released at this time.

In a press release on Tuesday morning, the sheriff's office said that the investigation into the boy's death had been turned over to outside agencies.

To ensure a thorough and transparent process, the investigation will be led by the Kansas City, Kansas, police department with assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Response Team, the release said. Updates will be provided as

information becomes available and appropriate.

"Multiple agencies responded to assist, including the Pleasanton Police Department, Linn County Rural Fire, Anderson County Fire, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office, and the Bates County Sheriff's Office from Missouri," the release said. "Search teams covered a large wooded area that included multiple bodies of water, as well as a

lake community consisting of homes, trailers, and outbuildings."

"Due to the dangerous conditions and difficult terrain, the search was suspended at approximately 2 a.m. to ensure the safety of responders.

"Family members and friends were contacted throughout the night, but no additional information was obtained.

"At first light, search efforts resumed. LNSO and Linn County Emergency Manage-

ment coordinated the resources necessary for a large-scale search, with multiple agencies re-

sponding to assist, including the Pleasanton Police Department, Linn County Rural Fire, Anderson County Fire, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office, and the Bates County Sheriff's Office from Missouri."

Later that morning, information received from an assisting agency led to the search transitioning into a recovery investigation.