This is a photo of Kathlynn Shepard exiting her bus prior to her abduction Monday.
Some items have been found that belong to the two girls who police say were abducted by a registered sex offender in north-central Iowa.
But, 15 year old Kathlynn Shepard remains missing. Police say she was abducted in Dayton on Monday, along with a 12-year-old girl, by 42 year old Michael Klunder. The 12-year-old escaped and then police found Klunder dead.
The girls’ backpacks and a purse were found Tuesday about 14 miles SE of Dayton. Meanwhile, authorities have narrowed their search for Shepard.
Special Agent Bill Keitzman with the Iowa DCI says today’s search is focused on a smaller area. “It’s about a three or four mile area we’re going to primarily,” Keitzman says. “We’re looking at an area between where the girls were taken initially and an area we think is very important.”
The DCI released a picture of Kathlynn right before she got off the school bus. Reports originally said she was wearing a Vikings hat, but the photo shows it is an Iowa Cubs hat.
Officials say the search area is primarily in rural and uninhabited terrain, and they are continuing to solicit information from locals and frequent visitors. In particular, investigators are asking any hunters that may have placed hunting cameras in the area, to check their recorders and report any findings to law enforcement by calling 515-573-1410.
The DCI released this map of the search area.
Click on the map to make it larger.