Man accused of dumping body across state lines: 13-year-old boy died from multiple dog bites
Published by RawNews1st
His Dogs Mauled A 13-Year-Old To Death. Then He Dumped His Body In A Ravine.
On December 21, 2025, police say 13-year-old Airen Andula was riding his bike to a friend’s house in Linn County, Kansas when authorities say he was attacked and killed by unleashed dogs.
According to Airen’s family, he was on his way to let out a friend’s dogs and chickens while the family was away.
His family said the trip should have taken only a few minutes.
Authorities said Airen was biking along a gravel path when he was attacked by dogs owned by 47-year-old Damon Leonard.
The dogs were described as mixed mastiff and pit bull breeds.
According to an arrest affidavit, after Airen was mauled to death, Leonard allegedly moved his body and dumped it down a large ravine in a creek bed about 30 miles away in Missouri.
Airen’s family said they were searching for him while Leonard allegedly acted like he did not know where the boy was.
In May 2026, Leonard was convicted in Missouri of abandonment of a corpse and sentenced to four years in prison.
In June 2026, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office charged Leonard with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration by unauthorized control of a dead body, and permitting a dangerous animal to be at large.
Airen’s mother, Jody Andula, said she could have viewed the dog attack as a freak accident, but she could not forgive Leonard for allegedly hiding her child’s body while everyone was looking for him.
Leonard now faces the Kansas charges connected to Airen’s death.
