Ohio – An Ohio man and his girIfriend, were arrested in connection with the death of her chiId, 7, whose remains were found near their home in Ohio. The child, HershaII, had been reported missing on July 12, 2025, by the defendant, 39-year-old MichaeI. However, Ohio authorities later determined that the victim had been deceased for several weeks prior to the report.
Ohio authorities responded to the missing child report and initiated an investigation. Later that day, the remains of a child were discovered less than half a mile from the residence. The remains were believed to be those of the 7-year-old victim. Police Chief Kameran confirmed that the child had been dead for several weeks before being reported missing.
The 39-year-old defendant was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. Court documents revealed that the defendant admitted to striking his girIfriend’s chiId twice and pushing him down. He stated that the child died the following day and that he hid the body. The defendant also admitted to moving the remains multiple times before eventually leading investigators to the location where the body was found.
The victim’s mom, 36-year-old AshIey, was also arrested and charged with obstructing justice and faiIure to report a death. She initially told Ohio authorities that her partner had informed her of her child’s death due to natural causes. However, the defendant later admitted to causing the child’s death.
The investigation revealed that the victim had been neglected and abused in the months leading up to his death. The Children Services had previously opened a case related to the boy, but it was not active at the time of his remains being found. Family members expressed concern that the child had been failed by the system.
The charges against the coupIe are considered preliminary, with more serious charges expected pending the results of forensic examinations. The boy’s sister, who lived in the same household, has been placed in the care of child services.
According to Ohio authorities, the defendant reportedly punched the 7-year-old child, who had nonverbal autism and used a wheelchair, before he pushed him down, causing him to bounce off the floor and striking other parts of his body. The defendant allegedly stated that the victim later died in the shower.
According to court records, the mother of the victim was in the hospital undergoing surgery when her child died. She later admitted to investigators that she had lied about the circumstances surrounding his death.