Human remains found in Iowa cornfield identified as 11-year-old Xavior Harrelson, missing since May

Human remains found in Iowa cornfield have been identified as that of missing 11-year-old Xavior Harrelson – who vanished during a bike ride in May barely a week after completing the fourth grade.

Xavior had been reported missing back on May 27, and after exhaustive search efforts by local authorities, a body was discovered on September 30 ‘in a rural area approximately three miles northwest of Montezuma,’ about 60 miles east of Des Moines, Sheriff Thomas Kriegel said Friday, according to CNN.

On Friday, the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office notified the sheriff’s department ‘that the human remains have been positively identified as those of Xavior Harrelson,’ Kriegel added.

A cause of death was not immediately provided by authorities, a Facebook post by the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office states.

However, Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, said Xavior’s death is being investigated as suspicious, the Des Moines Register reported.

Human remains found in Iowa cornfield have been identified as 11-year-old Xavior Harrelson, pictured, who went missing after a bike ride in May, just days after completing the fourth grade

A cause of death was not immediately provided, but Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, said his death is being investigated as suspicious

CNN reports that the FBI had assisted local authorities in an effort to search for Xavior, spokeswoman for the FBI Omaha field office Amy Adams told the network.

The hunt for Xavior drew upwards of 500 people – 375 of which were volunteers and 125 members of law enforcement – at the height of search efforts.

A farmer eventually stumbled upon the remains in a cornfield about four miles outside of the small town of Montezuma, which has a population of 1,300 people, according to the Star Tribune.

Xavior had just started his summer vacation after finishing the school year at Montezuma Elementary school – only days prior to his disappearance.

Montezuma Elementary School Principal Kurt Hanna recalled the boy going classroom to classroom on the last day of school to say goodbye and wish his fellow students a good summer.

A body was discovered in a cornfield (area pictured above) on September 30 ‘in a rural area approximately three miles northwest of Montezuma,’ about 60 miles east of Des Moines

A farmer eventually stumbled upon the remains a cornfield about four miles outside of the small town of Montezuma, which has a population of 1,300 people

‘You never think that would be one of the last times you see somebody. I’m praying it’s not,’ Hanna said at the time.

Hanna said Xavior is the kind of student that ‘always wanting to make sure you’re in a good mood and having a smile on your face.’

Meanwhile, Montezuma Mayor Jacki Bolen told the Register how the tight-knit community has been shaken by the news of the confirmation of Xavior’s body.

‘We will never forget Xavior and his kind heart,’ Bolen told the outlet.

‘The Montezuma community is greatly saddened by the news of Xavior’s passing. We express our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.’

An investigation into Xavior’s death and disappearance is ongoing, according to authorities.

Missing person signs for Xavior. The search for Xavior drew upwards of 500 people – 375 of which were volunteers and 125 members of law enforcement – and the height of search efforts

Xavior had just started his summer vacation after finishing the school year at Montezuma Elementary school – only days prior to his disappearance