Bond review hearing set for man accused in 13-year-old Kansas boy’s death
The man accused of leaving a Kansas boy’s body in a Missouri creek bed is due to appear in court next week for a bond reduction hearing, where a judge will decide whether to reduce and or set conditions on his bond amount.
Damon B. Leonard, 47, is charged in Bates County for abandoning a corpse after he allegedly dumped 13-year-old Airen Andula’s body in a creek. A massive search ensued last month when the boy went missing and when, according to court records, Leonard kept quiet about where he hid the boy’s body for almost a day.
Leonard appeared in court Thursday via Webex, a video conference platform used by courts. He appeared in custody with his attorney and a bond review hearing was scheduled for next week, according to court records.
According to a probable cause statement filed in Bates County, Leonard told deputies he transported Airen’s body across state lines, from the small Holiday Lakes community near Pleasanton, Kansas, to a remote area in Bates County.
Family of Airen said he went missing after he left his home to go to a friend’s house and tend to their pets. But he never arrived.
Investigators have released few details about how the attack happened, but an autopsy report determined Airen died from “multiple dog bite injuries.”
The case has left the small Holiday Lakes community mourning the boy’s loss and searching for answers.
The Kansas City Kansas Police Department took over the investigation after local law enforcement officials requested an outside agency to avoid conflicts of interest. Leonard’s family is heavily involved in the Linn County community, and his stepbrother, Kevin Friend, is the former Linn County Sheriff.
Leonard was also charged in Linn County with interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration, and having a vicious dog at large, according to a news release from Kansas City, Kansas, police.
Police seized multiple dogs from Leonard’s property in Pleasanton, Kansas, with additional charges to possibly be filed later, according to Kansas City, Kansas Police spokesperson Nancy Chartrand.
Leonard is being held in the Bates County jail on a $100,000 cash only bond. He is due to appear in court again 9 a.m. Jan. 21, for the court to review his bond conditions.
Some previous reporting by The Star’s Eric Adler, Laura Bauer and PJ Green contributed.
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 9:20 AM.
