Almost four weeks after 14-year-old Harley Dilly disappeared while walking to school, officials in Port Clinton, Ohio, said his body was found trapped inside the chimney of a vacant home.
Dilly left his home on Dec. 20 to go to his last day of school at Port Clinton High School before the holiday break. He never arrived.
Port Clinton Police Department Chief Robert J. Hickman tried not to break down in tears during a press conference on Tuesday where he announced that Dilly was dead. “This appears to be an accident, no foul play expected,” said Hickman.
Investigators re-canvassed the area on Monday and decided to search the summer home that was under renovations. “There is no evidence of forced entry. Since there is a lockbox and anyone can go in and out of the house, we went inside to check the house,” said Hickman. When they entered the second floor of the house, they found Dilly’s jacket and glasses next to a brick chimney and his body caught inside.