FILE – This file photo provided by The Iowa Department of Public Safety shows Kathlynn Shepard, 15. Authorities announced early Saturday, June 8, 2013 that they have recovered a body believed to be Shepard, who was kidnapped by a registered sex offender while walking home from school.BOONE, Iowa – Authorities announced early Saturday that they have recovered a body believed to be a 15-year-old Iowa girl who was kidnapped by a registered sex offender while walking home from school.
High school freshman Kathlynn Shepard has been missing since May 20, when she and a 12-year-old friend were lured into a pickup truck that police believe was driven by Michael J. Klunder. The younger girl was able to escape after he took them to a hog confinement facility, but Kathlynn was never found.
Gerard Meyers, assistant director of field operators of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said fisherman found the body Friday night in the Des Moines River near Boone, concealed by debris.
Boone County sheriff’s deputies then recovered the body. An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday morning.
“We’re fairly confident the unfortunate circumstance this evening was the recovery of Kathlynn,” Meyers said at a news conference in Boone.