Port Clinton police: Body of missing teen Harley Dilly found in chimney

PORT CLINTON - The more than three-week search for missing teen Harley Dilly came to a tragic end on Monday night after his body was found in a chimney of a vacant Port Clinton home, according to police.

Port Clinton Police Chief Rob Hickman said in a noon news conference today that a body they believe to be Dilly was found in the chimney at 507 Fulton Street, which is across the street from his home in the 500 block of 5th Street in Port Clinton.

Hickman said investigators believe Dilly’s death was accidental and are awaiting the results of an autopsy being conducted today by the Lucas County Coroner’s Office.

A member of the Dilly family shared in a post on social media that police confirmed to her that the missing teen was found dead on Monday.

Social media: Harley Dilly very active online before disappearance

Ashlyn Dilly, Harley’s sister, who lives outside of Ohio, said in comments made on Facebook that she had been visited by local law enforcement in the early morning hours Monday and informed of Harley’s passing.

“Yes, I was visited by my LE (law enforcement) out here per the request of my family to be updated the news,” Ashlyn Dilly wrote in a comment on Facebook following her post about Harley’s death.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday removed the page containing information regarding Harley Dilly from its website on missing persons.

Port Clinton police and members of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation on Monday night began searching a vacant house in the 500 block of East Fifth Street, across the street from the Dilly residence.

According to multiple reports, a coroner was present at the scene Monday night and authorities were seen removing a portion of the home’s wall.

Dilly, 14, was last seen around 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, when he left for school. Police believe he was spotted in a surveillance camera video taken that morning while he was crossing the street in front of his home.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement, "We are heartbroken over the outcome but know every effort was made to find Harley. Chief Hickman shouldered the weight of this investigation which has resulted in a tragic loss for the community of Port Clinton."

Last Saturday, more than 120 volunteers participated in a search of the Port Clinton area looking for the missing boy.

A reward of $19,500 had been offered for information leading to Harley’s safe return.

Check back for updates on this developing story.