Kansas teen reported missing Nov. 25 is found dead inside his vehicle, chief says
A 17-year-old Dodge City teenager was found dead inside his vehicle on Tuesday after being reported missing weeks earlier.
Cody Ceniceros was reported missing on Nov. 25 when he got into his 1999 Maroon Chevy Tracker at around 6 p.m. on Nov. 24 and left alone. His cell phone was reportedly turned off and was not turned back on, Dodge City Police Chief Drew Francis said in a Dec. 4 city commission meeting.
Francis’ address to the public came after Ceniceros’ disappearance drew public concern on social media.
“This is a very active investigation,” Francis previously said. “There’s still a lot of work going on behind the scenes... I can tell you that we have searched a lot of ground, a lot buildings.”
On Tuesday, Dodge City police and the Ford County Sheriff’s Office responded to a crashed vehicle in a remote area of Ford County. The property owner had called to report the vehicle after he discovered it, according to a Dodge City police news release.
The lead detective on the case identified the body as Ceniceros and the vehicle belonging to him. Preliminary investigation says the vehicle left the roadway, drove through a farm field east of an intersection, went airborne and rolled over, the release said.
“Preliminary assessments suggest Cody succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash most likely immediately,” the release said.
The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the crash scene and an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death of Ceniceros.
“This public release is issued due to the extensive community involvement in the search for Cody,” Francis said on Tuesday. “I ask the public to please keep in mind that this is a preliminary release and our understanding of what happened could change as we move through this investigation.”
Some of the agencies involved in the search included the Dodge City Police Department, Ford County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Edwards County Sheriff’s Office and the Barton County Sheriff’s Office.
This story was originally published December 19, 2023 at 6:32 PM.