The search for a missing 14-year-old girl that began Wednesday evening ended Thursday when she was found deceased. A suspect has been arrested. Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark issued a news release Thursday evening:

On Wednesday, April 8, at approximately 8:36 p.m., Great Bend Police Officers responded to a call of a missing 14-year-old juvenile female. The juvenile female was last reported to have been attending a class at Holy Family School located at 4200 Broadway Ave. in Great Bend.

Great Bend Police Officers fielded multiple calls regarding potential locations and areas where the missing juvenile female could possibly be located, but she was not found.

On Thursday, April 9, at approximately 9:10 a.m., GBPD officers responded to the 4700 block of 17th Street Terrace in Great Bend in reference to a juvenile female located behind a large dirt pile. The juvenile female was determined to be deceased and has been positively identified. The juvenile female’s identity is being withheld currently to allow for notification of family members.

Investigators and officers processed the crime scene, conducted numerous interviews, and executed multiple search warrants. A 14-year-old juvenile male was arrested and transported to the Barton County Detention Center on charges of 1st Degree Murder.

The Great Bend Police Department was assisted in this investigation by the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Great Bend Fire Department.

This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with further information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crimestoppers at 620-792-1300 or online at p3tips.com.