An Ohio mother and her boyfriend have been arrested following the discovery of her disabled 7-year-old son’s remains just blocks from their home, ending a missing child search that authorities say was based on a lie.
The boy, identified as Hershall Creachbaum, had nonverbal autism and used a wheelchair. He was reported missing on Saturday by his mother’s boyfriend, Michael Kendrick, 39. But within hours, police discovered a child’s remains in a grassy field near train tracks—less than half a mile away. Authorities believe the remains are those of Hershall.
In a press conference Monday, Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal said the child had not been seen “for several weeks” before Kendrick reported him missing. The investigation quickly revealed that Hershall had likely died weeks earlier and was never truly missing.
“Unfortunately, this case did not begin when the child disappeared—it began weeks ago,” Afzal said. “This child should have never been in the situation he was in.”
According to court documents obtained by local CBS affiliate WHIO, Ashley H. Johnson, 36, told investigators that Hershall died “sometime while she was in the hospital having surgery in late May.” During that time, she said Kendrick had been responsible for the boy’s care.
Kendrick initially claimed Hershall died of natural causes, but later gave a more disturbing account. He allegedly admitted to punching the child, then pushing him down. According to police, Hershall struck the floor and other surfaces before dying later in the shower.
Kendrick allegedly kept Hershall’s body in the home “until he started to smell,” then placed it in a freezer. He later transferred the remains into a suitcase and disposed of it in a field. Weeks later, Kendrick reportedly returned, repackaged the remains, and left them in the location where police ultimately found the body.
A Pattern of Concern
WHIO reported that family members had raised concerns about Hershall’s welfare for months. Relatives said the boy had previously lived with his paternal grandmother, but custody reverted to Johnson after the grandmother was injured in a car accident.
Montgomery County Children Services had previously been involved with the family, Afzal confirmed. The agency has since taken custody of Hershall’s sister.
Legal Developments
As of Tuesday, neither Johnson nor Kendrick has been formally charged with murder. However, both are in custody at the Montgomery County Jail.
Johnson faces charges of failure to report a death and obstructing justice. She is being held on a $2,000 bond. Kendrick is charged with three counts of tampering with evidence and one count of abuse of a corpse. Jail records list additional charges—including murder, child endangerment, and assault—though they have not yet been formally filed. Kendrick is being held without bond.
“This is a horrific and heartbreaking case,” Chief Afzal said. “We are committed to seeking justice for Hershall.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and further charges may be filed as authorities continue to gather evidence.
