Thirteen-year-old Airen Andula was last seen Dec. 21 riding his bike in Kansas and was reported missing that evening. On Dec. 23, authorities say 47-year-old Damon Leonard contacted deputies, allegedly admitted transporting the child to Bates County, Missouri, and led them to a remote creek bed where Airen’s body was found. Leonard has been charged with abandonment of a corpse, pleaded not guilty and is held on $100,000 bond pending extradition; additional charges in Kansas are expected. Police have not released a cause of death and the investigation remains active.
13-Year-Old Airen Andula Found Dead After Going Missing; Man Charged After Allegedly Leading Police to Body
Linn County Sheriff's OfficeAiren Andula
The last confirmed sighting of 13-year-old Airen Andula was the morning of Sunday, Dec. 21, when he rode his bicycle in his Kansas neighborhood. Two days later, authorities say his body was discovered in a remote creek bed inside a ravine in Bates County, Missouri — roughly 30 miles from his home, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
What Authorities Say
On Dec. 23, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at the home of 47-year-old Damon Leonard of Pleasanton after he allegedly told deputies he knew where the missing boy was and that the child was dead. According to a probable cause statement reviewed by PEOPLE, Leonard then allegedly admitted he had transported the deceased boy from Kansas to Bates County and showed deputies where he said he left the body.
Deputies say they obtained a search warrant and accompanied Leonard to a remote area in rural Bates County, where he allegedly indicated the body had been placed at the bottom of a steep ravine in a creek bed. Leonard has been charged in Bates County with abandonment of a corpse; Missouri authorities said additional charges in Kansas are expected.
Legal Status
Leonard pleaded not guilty in Bates County Circuit Court on Dec. 23. He is being held at the Bates County jail in Missouri on a $100,000 bond while extradition to Kansas is pending. His next scheduled court appearance is Jan. 15, 2026. It was not immediately clear whether he has retained counsel who could comment on his behalf.
Family Reaction and Investigation
Police have not released details about the cause of death. Airen’s parents described profound shock and grief. His father, Charles Andula, told local reporters the child appeared to have been left "in a brush pile, covered up," and said it felt as if Airen had been discarded like "trash." Airen’s mother, Anita Gunn, described the situation as "a big nightmare," saying the family is still struggling to accept the loss.
Note: The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed how Airen died. Information in this report is based on statements from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office, local news reports and a probable cause statement reviewed by PEOPLE.
