Mother, boyfriend charged after autistic boy was reported missing but had been dead for weeks

DAYTON, Ohio (TCN) — A 46-year-old mother and her 38-year-old boyfriend face charges after authorities investigated the possible kidnapping of a young nonverbal autistic child and discovered the boy’s suspected remains.

According to Dayton Chief of Police Kamran Afzal, in the early hours of July 12, Michael Kendrick called 911 to report a possible child abduction. Per court documents reviewed by WHIO-TV, Kendrick claimed 7-year-old Hershall Creachbaum had been kidnapped from his and Ashley Johnson’s front porch.

Officers searched the area and located Creachbaum’s suspected remains. Afzal said police believe the child was never missing and had been deceased for several weeks.

Police reportedly spoke with the victim’s biological mother Johnson, her boyfriend Kendrick, and another man. During an interview, Johnson allegedly said her son died while she was in the hospital undergoing surgery in late May. According to WHIO, Kendrick was reportedly caring for Creachbaum at the time, and he told Johnson the boy died of natural causes. Kendrick allegedly said he had “disposed of his body in an unknown location by railroad tracks.”

Kendrick reportedly confessed to police that he punched Creachbaum in the head twice. WHIO cited court documents that said, “He then pushed him down, causing him to bounce off the floor and striking other parts of his body.”

Kendrick allegedly admitted that he kept the victim’s body in the residence “until he started to smell, at which time he placed him in a deep freezer.”

The affidavit alleges that Kendrick “then took him out, stuffed him into a suitcase, and disposed of his body in a grassy field near train tracks.” Kendrick allegedly went back, placed the child’s remains in a bag, and left them in the 100 block of McClure Street.

Kendrick faces charges of tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse, while Johnson has been charged with obstruction of justice and failure to report a death.

According to Afzal, additional charges may be forthcoming.

The victim’s older sibling was reportedly in the home, but police said she is now under the care of child services.

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