Missing children in Ohio: cases increase

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A new report finds the number of missing children in Ohio increased in 2023 and highlights unsolved disappearances dating back to 1928.

The Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse is a repository of statistics and information on missing children in the state. All 50 states have missing children clearinghouses, which provide resources to missing children, their families and the professionals who serve them, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

In its 2023 report released by the Ohio Attorney General, the Clearinghouse documented that 22,374 people were missing in Ohio; an increase of 1,757 people compared to the previous year. Of the missing people, 17,405 were missing children, 1,850 more than the state saw in 2022.

Among the missing children, 9,571 were girls and 7,829 boys; 15,692 were aged 13 to 17; 1,541 were aged 6 to 12; and 172 were aged 0 to 5 years. Authorities said 98 percent of the missing children, or 17,033, were found safe by the end of the year. Five of the missing children were found dead. There are still 367 children missing.

Of the missing children cases for which the circumstances were specified, 9,469 cases involved running away, 35 cases involved abduction by a noncustodial parent, and 15 cases involved abduction by a stranger.

Law enforcement issued 13 Amber Alerts in 2023, involving 17 children. Sixteen children were found safe and one child, Keshaun Williams, 16, remains missing. Ten endangered missing child alerts were also issued, involving 12 children. These alerts are used to seek help for a missing child when law enforcement cannot determine whether the child has been abducted, but the disappearance otherwise meets the criteria for an Amber Alert. The 12 children were recovered safely.

Northeast Ohio saw one of the highest numbers in the state, with more than 5,400 reports of missing children coming from the Cleveland, Akron and Canton areas – Cuyahoga County accounted for 2,959 of these cases. Central Ohio followed with 4,090 missing child reports, more than half of which came from Franklin County (3,252).

The Ohio counties of Franklin and Cuyahoga, which had the highest number of child disappearances, are also the most populous counties in the state.

In Ohio, the report said there were 12 attempted child abductions in 2023, involving seven girls and five boys, and resulting in eight arrests. The suspects were traveling in a vehicle in 58% of kidnapping attempts. Of the incidents where the suspect's method is known, 66% used physical force or a weapon and 33% engaged the child in conversation asking for help or directions.

The report also highlights four unsolved cases of missing children, all of whom have been missing for more than a decade. Melvin Horst disappeared from Orrville in December 1928 at the age of 4. At the time of his disappearance, he took a small red toy truck and went to play with four friends a block from his home. His friends told authorities that Horst left to walk home. He never arrived home, but the toy was found in his yard. Today, Horst would be 99 years old.

Ashley Norah disappeared from Columbus in June 2002 at the age of 17. Although the report provides few details about her disappearance, it does say that her ears were pierced, she had a birthmark on the back of her leg and braces when she was last seen. Today she would be 39 years old.

Glenna White disappeared from Alliance in June 2009 at the age of 17. She had a tattoo on her right arm of a yin-yang and a sunbeam, a scar on her left wrist, and her nose, lip, and ears were pierced. She was last seen wearing a green tank top, black pants and black shoes with red hearts. A local man was charged with White's murder after she was allegedly last seen with him, leading to a mistrial. A body was never discovered.

Zaden McKnight disappeared from Dayton in March 2014 at the age of 4. McKnight was last seen with his mother, Nichelle, who was shot. The main suspect in Nichelle's death committed suicide. Zaden was last seen wearing blue jeans, a yellow hat, a yellow and blue coat, and red Velcro shoes with Lighting McQueen on them. Today he would be 14 years old.

Data for the clearinghouse report comes from law enforcement missing child reports, which are entered into the National Crime Information Center database. Once the child is found, the report is closed and the file is updated in the database.