Found Deceased Airen Andula, 13 - Last Seen in the Holiday Lakes Community at 8:00 AM - Linn County - 21 Dec 2025

[Spectrix]

"At first I thought Airen was just riding by Leonard's house and was attacked on his bike. But after reading the article (lot's of info, must read), I think Airen actually went to his house that day. Maybe the "not nice" dogs weren't penned/contained and they attacked Airen before Leonard could get to them" i agree that sounds like that's exactly what happened in this unfortunate situation and that leonard hid Airens body out of guilt/panic ie why he ended up showing/telling the police where Airen was

This is a horrible situation all around. And while I don't condone Mr Leonard's actions after the attack, I agree it was likely out of panic rather than malice, hence turning himself into the police.

I do wonder about his reason for keeping known viscous dogs.

The charges as they stand at the moment appear to be:

- Criminal desecration
- Interference with law enforcement
- Having a vicious dog at large
- Abandonment of a corpse (in Missouri)

It's going to be somewhat complex to prosecute as he crossed state lines in the process of moving the body.

 

[Niner]

@Jewels53 - when you get chance - any new hearing dates yet? TIA!

 

[Jewels53]

@Jewels53 - when you get chance - any new hearing dates yet? TIA!

25BS-CR00532 - ST V DAMON BARRETT LEONARD


01/15/2026

Bond Reduction Hrng Scheduled

Scheduled For: 01/21/2026; 9:00 AM; JULIE ANNETTE HIGHLEY-KEUTZER; Bates County Circuit Court
Hearing Held
Defendant appears in the custody of the Sheriff of Bates County via Webex with Jason Speer, A.P.D. standing in for Jeff Martin, P.D. and bond reduction hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
Associated Entries: 12/23/2025 - Counsel Status Hrng Scheduled
Scheduled For: 01/15/2026; 9:30 AM; JULIE ANNETTE HIGHLEY-KEUTZER; Bates County Circuit Court




WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026

Judge/Commissioner: JULIE ANNETTE HIGHLEY-KEUTZER
Setting:
Time: 9:00 AM
Day: 1 OF 1
Location: Bates County Circuit Court
Room: LARGE COURTROOM
Event: Bond Reduction Hearing
Address: 1 N DELAWARE BUTLER MO
Event Text:

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=25BS-CR00532&inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0005_CT27#event

I still can't find anything on the Kansas side.[/td]

 

[Gators North]

Does anyone know what happened to the vicious dogs? Are they in a shelter or were they euthanized?

 

[Niner]

25BS-CR00532 - ST V DAMON BARRETT LEONARD


01/15/2026

Bond Reduction Hrng Scheduled

Scheduled For: 01/21/2026; 9:00 AM; JULIE ANNETTE HIGHLEY-KEUTZER; Bates County Circuit Court
Hearing Held
Defendant appears in the custody of the Sheriff of Bates County via Webex with Jason Speer, A.P.D. standing in for Jeff Martin, P.D. and bond reduction hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
Associated Entries: 12/23/2025 - Counsel Status Hrng Scheduled
Scheduled For: 01/15/2026; 9:30 AM; JULIE ANNETTE HIGHLEY-KEUTZER; Bates County Circuit Court




WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026

Judge/Commissioner: JULIE ANNETTE HIGHLEY-KEUTZER
Setting:
Time: 9:00 AM
Day: 1 OF 1
Location: Bates County Circuit Court
Room: LARGE COURTROOM
Event: Bond Reduction Hearing
Address: 1 N DELAWARE BUTLER MO
Event Text:

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=25BS-CR00532&inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0005_CT27#event

I still can't find anything on the Kansas side.[/td]

The Kansas case will probably be after the Bates County one - I would think. And thanks for the updated hearing!

 

[Knox]

"At first I thought Airen was just riding by Leonard's house and was attacked on his bike. But after reading the article (lot's of info, must read), I think Airen actually went to his house that day. Maybe the "not nice" dogs weren't penned/contained and they attacked Airen before Leonard could get to them" i agree that sounds like that's exactly what happened in this unfortunate situation and that leonard hid Airens body out of guilt/panic ie why he ended up showing/telling the police where Airen was

Agree, Leonard appeared to be fond of Airen. I think he likely panicked initially. It’s a terrible, bizarre, reaction but I don’t know what his headspace was at the time. Did he have something to protect or hide?

What I’m most curious about is whether Airen could have been saved had he called 911.

 

[iamshadow21]

Does anyone know what happened to the vicious dogs? Are they in a shelter or were they euthanized?

They killed a child, they've probably already been put down. There's no rehabilitation for that level of violence against humans.

MOO

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, January 21st:
*Bond Reduction Hearing [Bates County] (@ 9am CT) - MO - Airen Andula (13) Last seen in the Holiday Lakes Community near Pleasanton after riding his bike to a neighbor's house to feed their pets while they were out of town at 8am on Dec 20, 2025 in Linn County . Found deceased on Dec. 22, 2025 at the bottom of a Missouri ravine was reportedly attacked by Leonard’s dogs. *Damon Barrett Leonard (47) arrested (12/22/25) & charged (12/23/25) with abandonment of a corpse in Bates County, MO. Plead not guilty (12/23/25). Bond $100K CASH-Only. Bates County
Court documents reveal Leonard “admitted that he transported the deceased child from Kansas to Missouri & left the body in the bottom of the creek before traveling back to Kansas, where he resides.”
Judge Julie Annette Highley-Keutzer presiding. Public defenders Jason Speer & Jeff Martin.
Court info from 12/23/25 [Bates County] reference post #38 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/aire...8-00-am-linn-county-21-dec-2025.758131/page-2
1/2/26 Docket update: Motion for discovery filed by Jeffrey M. Martin. Entry of appearance filed by Martin. Counsel status hearing on 1/15/26.
1/15/26 Update: Counsel status hearing held with Judge Julie Annette Highley-Keutzer presiding. Defendant appears in the custody of the Sheriff of Bates County via Webex with Jason Speer, A.P.D. standing in for Jeff Martin, P.D. & bond reduction hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, 1/21/26 @ 9am.
KS - Airen Andula (13) Last seen in the Holiday Lakes Community near Pleasanton after riding his bike to a neighbor's house to feed their pets while they were out of town at 8am on Dec 20, 2025 in Linn County . Found deceased on Dec. 22, 2025 at the bottom of a Missouri ravine was reportedly attacked by Leonard’s dogs. *Damon Barrett Leonard (47) arrested (12/22/25) & charged (12/23/25) with interference with law enforcement , criminal desecration for allegedly obtaining unauthorized control of a body & having a vicious dog at large. Linn County
1/3/26 Update: Prosecutors confirmed Friday that Leonard of Pleasanton, Kansas, is facing three misdemeanor charges in Linn County, Kansas, following the death of Airen Andula. According to a criminal complaint filed in Kansas on Dec. 23, Leonard is charged with one count of interference with law enforcement & one count of criminal desecration for allegedly obtaining unauthorized control of a body. A court date has not yet been listed for the charges that Leonard faces in Linn County. Leonard is also facing one charge in Missouri: a felony count of abandonment of a corpse. In that case, a counsel status hearing has been set for 1/15/26 in Bates County Circuit Court.