A 47-year-old man is confronting a series of serious criminal charges following the tragic death of his 13-year-old neighbour, whose body was discovered after an apparent animal attack.
Charges Filed in Teenager's Death
Damon Leonard was initially charged with abandonment of a corpse earlier this week in Missouri. This came after the body of Airen Andula, 13, was located at the bottom of a ravine. The teenager was last seen riding his bicycle on December 21 in the Holiday Lakes community near Pleasanton, Kansas, approximately 70 miles from Kansas City.
Linn County Sheriff James Akes explained to media that search efforts were hampered by rugged terrain, with teams scouring several bodies of water and lake communities. According to a probable cause statement, police from the Bates County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from Leonard himself during the search for Airen.
Suspect Leads Police to Body
When officers visited Leonard’s home, the suspect reportedly stated he knew Andula was dead and could direct officials to the location of the body. The site was in nearby Bates County, Missouri, around 30 miles from Pleasonton.
While the official cause of death has not been publicly released, the boy’s mother, Anita Gunn, told reporters that police informed her he had been attacked and killed by an unknown number of dogs. "[Police] said he was attacked by animals, found in the woods, attacked by animals," she said. Investigators indicated that Leonard’s property housed nearly a dozen dogs.
"This is beyond devastating – I have no words for it," Gunn stated. "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 added, "I just hope Airen gets justice. [Leonard] doesn’t know what kind of angel he took from us."
Additional Charges and Community Response
On December 29, authorities announced further charges against Leonard. In addition to abandonment of a corpse, he now faces counts of interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration, and having a vicious dog at large. He is currently being held in Bates County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.
Meanwhile, Andula’s family and friends are preparing for his funeral in Pleasanton. A GoFundMe campaign has been established by Gunn and her husband, Charles “Jody” Andula, to assist with funeral expenses and counselling costs. The page reads: "This fundraiser is for Anita, Jody, and their family. Any donation, share, or prayer is truly appreciated—more than words can express. Your kindness will help them cover funeral and cremation expenses, secure transportation, and access the counseling they need. Thank you for standing with them in this heartbreaking time."
