OTTAWA, Kan. — Franklin County law enforcement officials say they no longer have an active search for Lana Bailey, but will now continue with the criminal investigation into the quadruple murder.
The discovery came just as the authorities were preparing to scale back their search for the 18-month-old girl.
“About 10 p.m. last night, we discovered and recovered a body that we believe to be that of Lana-Leigh Bailey, Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Richards told reporters.
Sheriff Richards said Lana’s body was found in rural Osage County. Earlier Saturday evening, a deputy found some items related to the homicide investigation in the same area, although law enforcement officials won’t say what was found.
“We didn’t have any tips or anything that led us there. This was the initiative of a deputy and it was good police work,” Richards said. “You have to have instincts. This deputy had instincts.
Despite Lana’s body being found in bordering Osage County, police said they believe Lana was killed at the farm located on the Georgia Road in Franklin County. It’s the same place where her mother Kaylie Bailey, Andrew Stout and Steven White were also murdered.
Based on evidence they received several days ago, authorities had already presumed that the little girl was dead. But there was still that “what if” factor.
“It means a lot to the family. They need to have this, so they can move on,” Richards said. “They can’t deal with something as long as they don’t have any type of closure. This helps bring closer to them.
Richards said the discovery means just as much for his team.
“This is personal for all of us as well. Any type of crime such as this takes an emotional toll. But especially when it’s a child. Just like it has with you as well as the public,” Richards told the assembled media.
While this brings an end to the search for Lana Bailey, the criminal investigation into her murder is far from over.
Her alleged murderer Kyle Flack, 27, has been charged by prosecutors for all four murders. He faces two capital murder charges, a rape charge and an unlawful use of a firearm charge.
Flack is scheduled to make another court appearance on Monday.
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