- Elido Vargas had told his father he was returning to school but he never arrived
- Relatives called police and reported Elido, of Burgess Hill, West Sussex, missing
- Body was finally discovered on Thursday lunchtime by a member of the public
- Post mortem to be held but it's not believed police are treating it as a suspicious
The body of a missing schoolboy has been found in a churchyard just two days after he disappeared from his home.
Elido Vargas told his father he was returning to school but never arrived, forcing his panicked relatives to call police.
His body was finally discovered on Thursday lunchtime by a member of the public at St John the Evangelist's Church in Burgess Hill.
A post mortem will be held but it is not believed that police are treating it as a suspicious death.
Floral tributes were laid at the scene and friends were seen visiting to pay their respects.
Charlotte Caulkin, Elido's teacher at Manor Field Primary School in the town, described him as a 'lovely, cheeky and energetic boy'.
She said: 'I taught Elido at Manor Field Primary. He was in my dance group in Year 6 and I remember him with great fondness.
'He was a lovely boy, cheeky and energetic. He took part in a dance group where his group won and got through to a showcase final.
'He was the only boy in the group but he didn't care - he put in 100 per cent and I'll never forget his brilliant smile.
'So sad to hear this news and my prayers and thoughts go out to his family.
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'I know he was extremely caring of his younger siblings - let's hope his memory can be kept alive through others memories of him and in time that these will bring the family some comfort.'
Detectives said they were now looking to build up a picture of the events leading up to the death of the popular schoolboy.
They will want to know if he had been suffering from any problems such as bullying at school.
Elido, of Burgess Hill, West Sussex, had told his father at 3.45pm on Tuesday that he was returning to school but he never arrived.
He was last seen wearing his Burgess Hill Academy uniform. Police have CCTV footage which seems to show him at a local Waitrose store.
He did not take his mobile phone with him. The body has not been formally identified, but police say it is Elido, and the local coroner has been informed.
Superintendent James Collis, of Sussex Police, said: 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Elido at this tragic time.
'We have officers supporting the family at this time and the family have asked for privacy.
'We appreciate all the support from the public who shared our appeals assisting our searching and enquires throughout this heart-breaking case.'
His body was finally discovered on Thursday lunchtime by a member of the public at St John the Evangelist's Church (pictured) in Burgess Hill
Floral tributes and cards have been laid at the scene and the church is putting on a service for Elido. Teary-eyed classmates were seen entering the church.
One of Elido's neighbours, who did not want to be named, said: 'Elido was always very smartly dressed, pleasant and he looked after his younger siblings.
'I last saw Elido on Tuesday bringing the rubbish back to his house. On Tuesday at 7.30pm there were four police cars that came to our road.
'That's when I found out he went missing. At midnight on Wednesday my wife woke me up because there was a police helicopter around.
'I speak to the father quite often because we both like motorbikes. The family are lovely. Elido was a lovely boy. I'm devastated to hear he is dead.'
Allan Kennedy, 30, of Burdocks Drive, Burgess Hill, said: 'It's really sad that this has happened to a 15-year-old boy.
'It's supposed to be one of the happiest times of his life but sadly he had to go so quickly.
It affects me deeply because this was part of my childhood where I spent my school days. To know a schoolboy has died here is really sad.'
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