Ohio Mother, Boyfriend Charged After Autistic Boy Found Dead Weeks Post Kidnapping Report

In Dayton, Ohio, the remains of 7-year-old Hershall Creachbaum, a nonverbal autistic boy who used a wheelchair, were discovered weeks after his death, following a false kidnapping report made by his mother Ashley Johnson and her boyfriend Michael Kendrick. Kendrick admitted to physically abusing Hershall, including punching and pushing him, which contributed to the boy's death; he then concealed the body by initially freezing it, later placing the remains in a suitcase and disposing of them near railroad tracks before moving them to a different location. Johnson and Kendrick were arrested and face preliminary charges including obstructing justice, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse, with more serious charges expected as investigations continue. Police Chief Kamran Afzal highlighted the callousness in the case and noted that the boy's sister has been placed in protective custody. The investigation revealed that Kendrick was intoxicated when he made the kidnapping call, which was fabricated to cover up the boy's death. Authorities continue forensic examinations to determine the exact cause of death, while emphasizing the likelihood of additional charges against the suspects.