Convicted sex offender accused of kidnapping 2 girls in Dayton, Iowa, found dead

A convicted sex offender accused of abducting two girls aged 12 and 15 from a bus stop in Dayton, Iowa, has been found dead, but one of the girls remains missing, authorities said Tuesday.

Michael Klunder, 42, lured the two girls into his truck on Monday afternoon by offering them lawn mowing jobs, WHO TV reported, citing local police.

The girls accepted and were taken to an agricultural facility northeast of Dayton.

The youngest escaped and ran to a nearby farmhouse for help, triggering a police search for Klunder and the missing girl, DCI Director Chari Paulson told reporters.

“At approximately 8 p.m. (Monday), Michael Klunder and the red Toyota Tundra were located at a rural property northeast of Dayton. He was discovered deceased and the cause of death remains under investigation,” Paulson said.

Hundreds of volunteers are helping police with an air, water and land search for the missing girl, Kathlynn Shepard.