A heartbreaking case from Dayton, Ohio, has taken a disturbing turn. Authorities now believe that 7-year-old Hershall Creachbaum, a non-verbal boy with autism and confined to a wheelchair, had died weeks before he was reported missing.

Hershall’s body was discovered on July 12 — the same day a 911 call from 38-year-old Michael Kendrick claimed the child had been kidnapped. However, investigators quickly uncovered evidence suggesting Hershall hadn’t been seen in weeks, shifting the case to a homicide investigation.

Arrests and Charges

Hershall’s mother, Ashley Johnson, has been charged with obstruction of justice and failure to report a death. Kendrick faces multiple charges, including tampering with evidence and child abuse.

At a press conference, Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal described the situation as “truly evil,” expressing outrage over the delay in reporting Hershall’s death. “This child was vulnerable, non-verbal, and deserved protection. Instead, we got a staged kidnapping report weeks after his passing,” he said.

Family and Background

Hershall had previously lived with his grandmother but was in his mother’s custody at the time of his death. His older sister has since been placed in foster care. While Children’s Services had been aware of the family, no active case was open when the tragedy occurred.

This case continues to send shockwaves through the community as the investigation unfolds.