HOISINGTON – Two-year-old Iviona Lewis, the Hoisington girl reported missing Tuesday afternoon, was been found dead in rural Barton County, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported Wednesday morning, adding that an arrest in the case had been made.

According to the Hoisington Police Department, Chaz Stephens, 25, was arrested and was booked into the Barton County Jail on second-degree murder in the death of Lewis. Stephens was an acquaintance of the child.

The HPD requested the KBI issue an endangered person advisory for the missing Lewis. However, it was canceled and “unfortunately, she has been located deceased in rural Barton County. Agents and local law enforcement worked through the night and made an arrest at approximately 7:30 a.m. Wednesday,” a KBI news release said.

It was at about 3:50 p.m. Tuesday that Hoisington police received a report of a missing child who had been missing from Hoisington since Sunday. An alert from the HPD went out on the city’s NIXLE network requesting help from the community, involving mass text and email messages being sent to those who have signed up for the service.

Officers canvassed the city, going door-to-door with pictures of Lewis. Flyers were also distributed at local businesses.

Posts were made on social media, and the story was reported in the newspaper, and on radio and television.

Law enforcement agencies that assisted with the investigation included: The Hoisington Police Department, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, the Hoisington Fire Department, and the Hoisington EMS.

More information will be reported as this case develops.