LEAWOOD, Kan. — A vehicle recovered from a Leawood retention pond over the weekend has been linked to the 2016 disappearance of Jay Flekier, according to the Leawood Police Department.
Police said a volunteer dive team discovered the vehicle Saturday, Sept. 12, in a retention pond in the 14700 block of Norwood Street. A diver entered the water to investigate a large metal object detected by sonar and determined it was a submerged vehicle.
The vehicle’s license plate matched the description of one connected to a missing person investigation. After contacting Flekier’s family, police confirmed the vehicle was the one he was reported to have been driving when he disappeared in June 2016.
Flekier was 59 years old when his family reported him missing from his south Leawood residence. Police opened an investigation into his disappearance at the time and said no foul play was suspected.
The Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed skeletal remains were found inside the vehicle following its recovery. The medical examiner is working to officially identify the remains.
Flekier disappeared on the day his mother was being laid to rest and did not attend her funeral. Records from the missing person investigation indicated he seldom traveled far from his home.
Authorities have not announced when the identification process is expected to be completed.
