MONTEZUMA, Iowa — The body of an adolescent found in a field had clothing that was consistent with what a 10-year-old Iowa boy was wearing when he went missing in May, authorities said Thursday.
Xavior Harrelson, of Montezuma, was last seen on May 27, three days before his 11th birthday, the Des Moines Register reported. The body found Thursday was about four miles from Harrelson’s home and was discovered by a farmer mowing fields, the newspaper reported.
The farmer called the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office, which responded to the scene, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation assistant director Mitch Mortvedt told KCCI.
The clothing on the adolescent body found matches what Xavior Harrelson was wearing when he was last seen May 27. https://t.co/bQ2v2wmKkC
— Des Moines Register (@DMRegister) September 30, 2021
“It appears to be that of an adolescent and at this time, the clothing that we see on scene, even though it’s obviously soiled and stuff, is consistent with what we knew Xavior to last be wearing,” Mortvedt told the television station.
At a news conference, Mortvedt said the gender of the body has not been confirmed.
Harrelson was last seen wearing a red T-shirt, blue pajama pants and black high-top shoes, the Register reported. He was riding his bike away from his home, and he has not been seen since, WHO-TV reported.
This evening officials confirmed an adolescent's body was found in rural Poweshiek County. Listen to what the DCI and Poweshiek Sheriff had to say. https://t.co/GKlY9SpKJv pic.twitter.com/8uEHYu2Fx4
— KCCI News (@KCCINews) October 1, 2021
Harrelson lived with his mother in the Spruce Village trailer park, according to The Associated Press.
The boy had just completed the fourth grade at Montezuma Elementary School on May 21, the AP reported. He was known for riding his bicycle around the trailer park.
“Xavior is a happy kid who gets along well with his peers and wants to please his teachers,” one of his teachers, Marie Boulton, said in June. “He’s always willing to help you out, engage in a conversation, and offers a smile to everyone he sees.”
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