Body found outside Great Bend; Teen still missing

Alicia Debolt's charred body was found at an asphalt plant near Great Bend on Wednesday. The 14-year-old had been missing since Saturday evening.

? A Wichita coroner was conducting an autopsy Wednesday to determine whether a body found outside of Great Bend on Tuesday is that of a missing teenager who hasn’t been seen since the weekend.

Kansas Bureau of Investigation spokesman Gavin Young said investigators were not immediately able to identify the body as that of 14-year-old Alicia DeBolt.

The body was found in a field a few miles outside of the Barton County community on Tuesday, two days after the girl had been reported missing.

The KBI issued a missing-child alert Tuesday seeking information on the whereabouts of Alicia, who was last seen Saturday night getting into a newer-model SUV. The Great Bend Tribune reported that the girl left home around 11 p.m. to attend a party with a 19-year-old man.

Family members reported her missing late Sunday morning.

“It’s mind draining and heart breaking,” Holly DeBolt, Alicia’s sister-in-law, told the Tribune. “Not having any leads, it’s numbing.”

After Great Bend residents got word Tuesday night that a body had been found, dozens turned out for an impromptu prayer vigil at a downtown park.

Alicia is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, 115 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

According to the Tribune, Alicia’s mother, Tammy Conrad, knew of her daughter’s plans to go to a party with the man, whom she described as a friend of her daughter’s. Officials said that’s why there was no Amber Alert issued when the girl didn’t show up by her midnight curfew.

Alicia was to begin her freshman year at Great Bend High School on Monday, and family members said she was excited about starting cheerleading. Holly DeBolt said Alicia also missed a high school booster club dinner on Sunday night that was very important to her.

A prayer vigil is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday in downtown Great Bend. The organizers said the vigil would go on as scheduled.