A heartbreaking incident unfolded when a 13-year-old boy from Kansas was discovered lifeless in a Missouri ravine, with reports attributing his death to a vicious dog attack.

Identified as Airen Andula, the young boy was last seen on Sunday, cycling near Pleasanton. Tragically, his body was found the following day in a Missouri creek bed. His mother revealed to WDAF that her son had fallen victim to multiple dog attacks.

“I asked them how did he die. He said he was attacked by animals – found in the woods, attacked by animals,” she stated.

The case took a turn when 47-year-old Damon Leonard, a suspect, guided authorities to the location of Andula’s body. On Monday, Leonard reportedly contacted Bates County police, admitting he knew the boy’s fate and led them to the creek bed in Missouri where he had allegedly transported and abandoned the body.

Leonard resides in Pleasanton, and sources informed WDAF that responding officers discovered approximately a dozen dogs at his residence. Notably, both Andula and Leonard lived in close proximity to each other.

According to WDAF, Andula vanished on Sunday, after leaving home to help a friend let out their dogs and chickens while they were out of town.

“These people portrayed to this community that they were good people – they went around helping people, like food if they were in need, they gave them food. They took my kids to the swimming pool all summer long,” Andula’s mother said of Leonard.

Officials have not publicly disclosed how Andula died.

Currently, Leonard is charged with felony abandonment of a corpse. He remains jailed on a $100,000 cash-only bond as he awaits a January 15 court date.

[Feature Photo: Linn County police]