MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ohio — An Ohio man now faces multiple charges following the death of a 7-year-old boy with disabilities.
The case started in July 2025 when 39-year-old Michael Kendrick called 911 to report that his girlfriend’s son was missing.
Dayton police said the boy, 7-year-old Hershall Creachbaum, who had autism and used a wheelchair, was reported kidnapped that month.
As the investigation progressed, several crews searched the area. Authorities later revealed that no one had seen Creachbaum for weeks, and the case shifted into a homicide investigation.
Officials eventually determined that Creachbaum had not been missing but had been dead for several weeks. Investigators later found his remains a short distance away on McClure Street.
In July, a grand jury indicted Kendrick on charges of gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
In a case update on Thursday, authorities indicted Kendrick on additional charges, including murder, involuntary manslaughter, and endangering children.
The child’s mother, Ashley Johnson, was initially charged with obstructing justice. On Thursday, she was also indicted on charges of gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
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