Joplin , Missouri ( CNN ) -- A Missouri mother said Thursday that her 16-year-old son was killed by this week 's powerful tornado , one of scores who have been confirmed dead even as authorities try to track down many others who are considered missing . Michelle Hare told CNN that her son Lantz , who was ripped from a car Sunday night by winds exceeding 200 mph in Joplin , is dead and his body has been located . In the wrenching hours and days since the tornado , the boy 's father , Mike Hare , said he 'd searched hospitals and continually called his son 's cell phone , getting no answer . `` It rang for the first day and a half , and now it goes straight to voice mail . But just in case he gets it , I want him to know his dad loves him , '' the father said earlier this week . Lantz Hare was among those on the list , released Thursday by the Missouri Department of Public Safety , of 232 people from the southwest Missouri city for whom missing persons reports have been filled out . At least 126 people in Joplin had died due to the storm as of Thursday night , said Newton County Coroner Mark Bridges . That makes the tornado the single deadliest to touch down in any U.S. community since modern record-keeping began in 1950 . The Hares were among many around Joplin , still desparately searching for missing loved ones and clinging to hope . Christina , Caleb and Robert Hayward , for instance , have not seen their mother since the tornado . `` She went for pizza and never came back . It was three , four hours , and we knew , '' Robert Hayward said Wednesday . `` We all miss her . She was a great person . She did n't deserve this at all . Any one of us would trade places with her . '' One of the frustrations for families desperately trying to find their loved ones was a holdup at the morgue . Some were told that they may have to wait for two weeks before they can visit the morgue to search for relatives . Bridges told CNN that people who can make a positive identification of a relative , such as through tattoos , will be allowed to view a body matching that description . Missouri Gov . Jay Nixon said state officials were brought in `` to get this information out much more quickly and respectfully for these families that need to hear the information about the loved ones who are -- have been lost . '' Families of the missing have provided DNA samples and contacted dozens of hospitals , shelters and nursing homes in their bids to learn whether they have a `` John Doe '' or `` Jane Doe '' that could be their loved one . Charles Writer , 74 , is one of 12 residents of Greenbriar Nursing Home on the unaccounted for list . Ten residents and a staff member at the home were killed , a company official said . Writer 's family received conflicting reports on the Alzheimer 's patient 's possible fate , said Leah Mitchell , whose husband is Writer 's nephew . They have handed out flyers and used a spreadsheet to contact about several dozen facilities . `` There are two sides of the family , '' said Mitchell . `` One has accepted he 's deceased , the other side is not sure . '' Patricia Dawson 's family Thursday continued its search for the 74-year-old Joplin homemaker . They , too , have contacted many hospitals and nursing homes within 200 miles . Daughter-in-law Sharyn Dawson said the missing woman `` is an awesome granny to our 6-year-old , '' who has n't been told about the situation . CNN 's Chuck Johnston , Joe Sutton , Marlena Baldacci , Phil Gast , Mike Pearson , Jessica Jordan , Sean Morris and Barbara Starr contributed to this report . Watch Anderson Cooper 360° weeknights 10pm ET . For the latest from AC360° click here .
Evening : Officials begin process of body removal . NEW : At least 126 people are confirmed dead , coroner says . Lantz Hare , who was ripped from a car seat , was killed , teen 's mother says . He was among those on a list of 232 people in Joplin who 'd been reported missing .