Police in Kansas said Sunday that they believe they have found the body of missing 18-month-old Lana Leigh Bailey whose mother and two men were killed at a farm just days ago.
Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Richards released a statement indicating that the body of an infant had been found by investigators Saturday and believe it is that of the missing child, but forensic tests have not yet confirmed these findings.
"It is with great sadness that I report a body found in Osage County, Kansas, is believed to be the remains of 18-month-old Lana Bailey," Richards said in the statement.
The hunt for Lana began when 3 bodies were discovered at a farm in a rural area of Kansas, which investigators later discovered the infant's mother, Kaylie Bailey, arrived at to drop the child off with some friends.
Lana was missing from the scene and was presumed dead.
Police said the body of the child was found in Osage County as a police officer searched a local farmhouse looking for evidence that could be connected in the deaths of the 3 adults found May 6, the Daily Mail reported.
Though the evidence collected upon finding the body led police to believe it was the missing 18-month-old, the statement said plainly that police would continue searching and following tips until their suspicions are confirmed.
We hope that a forensic examination will make a final identification," Richards said. "Until the identity is confirmed investigators will continue following up on all tips, leads and information connected to this crime."
The statement did not elaborate on the infant's cause of death nor specifics about the location where the body was discovered, the New York Daily News reported.
The search extended a 50-mile radius with investigators employing boats, sonar equipment, search dogs and all-terrain vehicles. Kaylie's vehicle also turned up in the search Tuesday.
Ricahrds told the Associated Press that he would no release any further information beyond the press release until Sunday afternoon when the next one would be available to the public.
Kyle Flack, 27, was charged Friday with capital murder in the deaths of Kaylie, 21, and Andrew Stout, 30, as well as multiple counts of first-degree murder charges for those deaths and the death of 31-year old Steven White.
No motive has been determined in the case.
Flack, a convicted felon, apparently used a firearm on the 3 victims at the farm, but police did not indicate whether or not the victims died by gunshot wounds.
Richards said the search for the body had taken a severe mental toll on some investigators who have sought mental health counseling or spiritual counseling by a chaplain.
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