TULSA, Okla. — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol found the body of a missing 13-year-old boy along the Arkansas River on Tuesday.
Rylan Harris disappeared from the Tulsa Boys' Home on Monday night according to Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies. The Tulsa Boys' Home is the largest and first residential treatment facility in Oklahoma for troubled boys.
PHOTO GALLERY: Crews searching for missing 13-year-old Tulsa boy
Deputies found three of the boys on a sand bar in the Arkansas River after hearing them call for help. The three boys told deputies the other two boys were swept off the sand bar into the river.
Sand Springs police found the fourth boy on the south shore, but authorities continued searching for Harris. Oklahoma Highway Patrol took over the search at the river but paused around 1 a.m. early Tuesday morning. OHP resumed their search at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8th and recovered Harris just before noon near Holly Frontier refinery along the Arkansas River.
The boys later explained they were attempting to go to the Walmart in Sand Springs and thought they could take a shortcut by crossing the river instead of the Highway 97 bridge, according to Tulsa Boys' Home officials.
Our hearts are deeply saddened by the unfortunate and tragic loss of the life of young Rylan Harris. Our prayers for God’s great strength and comfort go out to Rylan’s parents and family, and to all who knew and loved him.
HEAR from TCSO on the recovery of teen after search along river below:
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