Man Arrested After 13-Year-Old Neighbor Was Found Dead From Apparent Animal Attack

A man in Kansas is facing multiple charges after his 13-year-old neighbor was found dead following an apparent animal attack.

Damon Leonard was charged on Monday, December 22, by Missouri authorities with abandonment of a corpse, according to online records viewed by Us Weekly.

He was arrested after Airen Andula‘s body was found at the bottom of a steep ravine. The teen was last seen on December 21 when he was riding his bike in the Holiday Lakes community not far from Pleasanton, Kansas, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

Linn County Sheriff James Akes told FOX4 that authorities searched for Andula in several bodies of water and communities near lakes. However, the rugged terrain forced authorities to pause search efforts.

Bates County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from Leonard during the search, according to the probable cause statement viewed by FOX4.

Officers claim they then went to Leonard’s home and he told them that he knew where the missing boy was. Leonard reportedly offered to direct officials to the body’s location in Bates County, Missouri, which is about 30 miles from Pleasanton.

Andula’s cause of death has not yet been released. However, his mother, Anita Gunn, told FOX4 that police explained to her Airen was attacked and killed by an unknown number of dogs.

“[Police] said he was attacked by animals, found in the woods, attacked by animals,” she told the outlet.

Additionally, FOX4 reported that investigators told Gunn that Leonard’s home had nearly a dozen dogs in it.

“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,” she said. “I just hope Airen gets justice. [Leonard] doesn’t know what kind of angel he took from us.”

New charges against Leonard were announced on top of his abandonment of a corpse charge on Monday, December 29. He is now also facing a charge of interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration and having a vicious dog at large.

Leonard is being held in Bates County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond, according to online records viewed by Us Weekly. His next hearing is scheduled to take place on January 15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

The sheriff’s office said that it will not be leading the investigation to ensure “thorough and transparent process.” The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department will instead be taking over the case, while the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Response Team and the Bates County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office will also help.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement, per FOX4. “Our community is mourning this heartbreaking loss, and we respectfully ask that the family’s privacy be honored as they grieve.”

Pleasanton School District, where Andula was a student, also addressed his tragic death in a statement.

“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,” the statement read. “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.”