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Coroner confirms body found in Ashtabula County is that of missing teen Kara Zdanczewski

Posted at 12:08 PM, May 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-18 12:30:47-04

The Ashtabula County coroner confirmed Thursday that the body found in Saybrook Township last week is that of missing teen Kara Zdanczewski.

The 13-year-old was reported missing last Tuesday, May 9.

Police said the girl's mother failed to report her missing until 36 hours after her disappearance.

RELATED: Man arrested in connection to disappearance of missing Ashtabula girl

Police said John Bove, 46, was the last person seen with Zdanczewski. He has been charged in her disappearance but not in her death. 

Her body was found in a field on Thursday, the same place Bove's abandoned car was found.

Bove, who police say admitted to killing Zadanczewski, recently taught classes at a local library, where staffers were unaware of his sex offender status.

RELATED: Convicted sex offender and suspect in Ashtabula teen's death taught at local library

Director & Deputy Fiscal Officer Penny Neubauer confirmed that Bove taught two classes at the Ashtabula County District Library in recent months.

Bove was required to register as a sex offender after a rape conviction in 1990 in New York. 

Lt. Joseph Cellitti, Ashtabula Police Dept. spoke with the family of Kara Zdanczewski on Thursday and said he does not think they were aware of Bove’s past. 

“I don’t believe they did. You would hope they wouldn’t and let their daughter go with him. I don’t think they did,” Lt. Cellitti said.  

Bove is currently being held in Mercer County Jail in Pennsylvania on a $500,000 bond. His next court date is May 24 at 10 a.m.

RELATED: Vigil for slain Ashtabula teen Kara Zdanczewski 

Ashtabula police said Bove will be extradited to Ohio to face charges in Ashtabula County.