PORT CLINTON, Ohio — The reward money donated by citizens and businesses for information leading to the safe return of Harley Dilly will instead be used to pay for the teen’s funeral expenses, with the remaining funds going to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Port Clinton police announced Friday that they have spoken to most of those who donated to the reward money fund, which totaled $19,545, as of the last update on January 11.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to helping find missing children, reducing child sexual exploitation and preventing child victimization.
The nearly $20,000 that was raised by the Port Clinton community was to be used as reward money for whomever provided information leading to the safe return of Harley. Businesses and individuals from around the Port Clinton area continued to donate to the fund during the three weeks that the boy was missing.
Tragically, Harley was not found safe; his body was discovered on Monday inside the chimney of a vacant home near the Dilly household. Police believe Harley climbed onto the home’s roof and became trapped in the chimney, where he died from asphyxiation, according to the coroner.
Harley's visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home at 216 Washington Street in Port Clinton.
