A teenager who went missing Wednesday night in rural Kalona was found deceased Thursday afternoon. Mid-Prairie administration confirmed that the body of 16-year-old Colton Allen was found. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office asked the public at about noon Thursday to help with locating Allen. Officials said he’d last been seen wearing a swimsuit at a gathering east of the 1500 block of Highway 1, about 4.4 miles south of Kalona. Dispatch received a report at 7:42 p.m. Wednesday that Allen was missing and had last been seen about 6 p.m. He did not have shoes or a shirt on, and had left his cell phone at the gathering. Numerous agencies from multiple jurisdictions aided in the search, including the Kalona Fire Department, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies, Kalona QRS, Washington County Ambulance, and Washington Fire and Rescue. At about noon Thursday the sheriff’s office asked for the public to assist in locating Allen. Volunteers were directed to the Kalona Middle School and then shuttled out to the search area. Hundreds of people volunteered to help look for Allen.

He was located east of the 1500 block of Highway 1 at approximately 1:30 p.m. An autopsy will be conducted. The incident remains under investigation.

Wednesday was the last day of classes of the school year for the Mid-Prairie Community School District. Due to the death, the school is providing counselors, administrators, clergy and other support personnel. The assistance was available in the high school library Thursday night and additional support services are in the high school library this morning (6/7) from 9 a.m. to noon.