It has been proposed that a seven-year-old boy who was reported abducted died weeks before his body was found, two days following his disappearance.

The death of young Hershall Creachbaum, a non-verbal wheelchair user from Dayton, Ohio, has led to the arrest and charging of two individuals.

On Saturday, July 12, the same day the missing person listing was submitted, his body was found.

Michael Kendrick has been charged with three counts of tampering with evidence and abuse, while Ashley Johnson, the schoolboy’s mother, has been charged with obstruction of justice and failing to notify a death.

It is believed that 38-year-old Kendrick called 911 at approximately 3.45 a.m. on the relevant day to report Hershall’s kidnapping.

Hershall’s body was found later that day.

Chief Kamran Afzal said yesterday at a press conference hosted by the Dayton Police Department that his authority believes Hershall had been dead for weeks before his body was discovered.

“In our line of work, unfortunately, we do see evil acts on routine basis,” he stated to reporters. “This calendar shown in this situation towards this child is horrendous and truly evil.”

He clarified that the probe shifted to a homicide investigation after police obtained evidence indicating that Hershall had not been seen for weeks after Kendrick’s call.

Afzal continued: “It was such a tragic thing; not that we don’t see tragedies all the time in Dayton, but when you have a non-verbal, autistic kid – somebody helpless, who should be taken care of and looked after.”

“The fact that he was deceased for several weeks, and we didn’t even get a call. We get a call in the manner that we get, which is, ‘hey, the the child was kidnapped’ – not that something tragic happened. ‘I’m just calling you, I finally have a clear conscience’.”

 

It is believed that Hershall was known to the Children’s Services Bureau, even though there was no open case at the time of his death. Tragically, Hershall had an older sister who has subsequently been placed in foster care under state custody.

Even though Hershall had lived with his grandmother before being returned to his mother, he was in her care when he vanished.

Jason Miller

 

With over a decade of experience in digital journalism, Jason has reported on everything from global events to everyday heroes, always aiming to inform, engage, and inspire. Known for his clear writing and relentless curiosity, he believes journalism should give a voice to the unheard and hold power to account.