LINN COUNTY, Kan. — A 13-year-old boy who disappeared from a Linn County, Kansas, community on Sunday and was found dead at the bottom of a Missouri ravine the next day was reportedly attacked by dogs, his mother Anita Gunn tells FOX4’s Malik Jackson. A suspect has since been charged in connection with his death.
According to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, 13-year-old Airen Andula was last seen at about 8 a.m. Sunday, in the Holiday Lakes neighborhood near Pleasanton, Kansas. He was reported missing at about 6:20 p.m., leading local deputies and multiple nearby law enforcement agencies to begin a large-scale search effort.
The sheriff’s office said the responding agencies began searching a large wooded area that included several bodies of water, as well as a lake community with homes, trailers and outbuildings. Linn County Sheriff James Akes confirmed to FOX4 that this wooded area was in Missouri.
However, the difficult and dangerous terrain forced the crews to suspend their efforts that evening to ensure the safety of the responders, according to the release.
The search continued Monday morning, and within hours, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office received information from one of the assisting agencies that Airen’s body had been found and that the search was transitioning into a recovery operation.
At this time, law enforcement has not released any details regarding the cause of Airen’s death; however, through Bates County court records, FOX4 confirmed that a man, identified as 47-year-old Damon B. Leonard of Pleasanton, Kansas, has been charged with abandonment of a corpse.
According to a probable cause statement filed by the Bates County Prosecutor’s Office, investigators with the Bates County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a missing 13-year-old from Linn County on Monday.
When deputies arrived at the home of the caller, Leonard answered the door and told deputies Airen was dead and he knew where his body was.
Court records say Leonard told investigators he had taken Airen’s dead body from Linn County to Bates County, across the state line, and left him in a remote area at the bottom of a large ravine in a creek bed. Leonard then said he went back to his home after leaving Airen’s body.
Investigators received a warrant to search the area after the interview and confirmed Leonard’s statements to be true after finding Airen’s body in the ravine.
Law enforcement has not released any details about Airen’s cause of death; however, the teen’s mother spoke with FOX4 and claimed he had been attacked and killed by an unknown number of dogs.
“I asked them how did he die,” Gunn said, describing a conversation she had with investigators about the cause of her son’s death. “He said he was attacked by animals – found in the woods, attacked by animals.”
These investigators reportedly told Gunn there were nearly a dozen dogs at Leonard’s home when they showed up to investigate on Monday.
“This is beyond devastating – I have no words for it. He was such a sweet boy… Airen was never in trouble, he didn’t go far from home, he never left and not told us where he was going, so we knew there was something not right,” Gunn told FOX4.
“I just hope Airen gets justice. [Leonard] doesn’t know what kind of angel he took from us.”
At this time, Leonard is being held in a Bates County jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond. He had his first court appearance on Tuesday morning, where he pleaded not guilty. Leonard’s next scheduled hearing is on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 9:30 a.m.
The sheriff’s office said, to ensure a “thorough and transparent process,” it will not be leading the investigation. Instead, the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department will be taking over, with the help of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Response Team and the Bates County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” the sheriff’s office said. “Our community is mourning this heartbreaking loss, and we respectfully ask that the family’s privacy be honored as they grieve.”
In the wake of the tragedy, the Pleasanton School District announced on social media Monday night that Airen was one of its students.
The statement reads:
“Dear USD 344 Family
With heavy hearts, USD 344 mourns the tragic passing of one of our beloved students. This loss is deeply felt across our school community. He was a valued part of USD 344, and this passing is a profound sorrow for classmates, staff, and all who knew him.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family during this incredibly difficult time. We ask that our community keep the family in their thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy as they grieve.”
According to Gunn, Airen was a beloved member of his community, especially at school.
“His teachers loved him, everybody loved him,” she said. “Airen wanted people to like him, and he wanted to help people, and that’s all he did.”
“All I can say is, I’m so sorry, Airen. He didn’t deserve this, not at all.”
The school district is providing counseling and support services for students and staff following news of Airen’s death. For mental health resources, click here to access services shared by the district.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to FOX4 News for the latest updates and information.