• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Boy, 7, with autism died weeks before he was reported missing as police give disturbing update

Home> News> US News

Published 19:53 15 Jul 2025 GMT+1

Boy, 7, with autism died weeks before he was reported missing as police give disturbing update

Hershall Creachbaum was in the custody of his mom when he disappeared, with his body found the same day a kidnapping report was filed

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

Warning: This article contains discussion of disturbing details surrounding the death of a young boy, which some readers may find distressing

A seven-year-old boy whose body was discovered just two days after he was reported to have been kidnapped died weeks prior to his disappearance, it has been suggested.

Two people have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of young Hershall Creachbaum, a non-verbal wheelchair user from Dayton, Ohio.

His body was located the same day the missing person listing was filed on Saturday (July 12).

Advert

The schoolboy's mom, Ashley Johnson, has been charged with obstruction of justice and failure to report a death, while Michael Kendrick has been charged with three counts of tampering with evidence, as well as abuse.

The body of Hershall Creachbaum, seven, was found just two days after he was reported missing (Dayton Police Department)
The body of Hershall Creachbaum, seven, was found just two days after he was reported missing (Dayton Police Department)

At around 3.45am on the day in question, 38-year-old Kendrick is understood to have dialled 911 to report that Hershall had been kidnapped.

Later that day, Hershall's body was discovered.

Advert

Speaking at a press conference held by Dayton Police Department yesterday, Chief Kamran Afzal confirmed that his authority believe Hershall had been dead for weeks prior to his body being found.

"In our line of work, unfortunately, we do see evil acts on routine basis," he told reporters. "This calendar shown in this situation towards this child is horrendous and truly evil."

Ashley Johnson, Hershall's mom, has been arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and failure to report a death  (Dayton Police Department)
Ashley Johnson, Hershall's mom, has been arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and failure to report a death (Dayton Police Department)

He explained that following the call from Kendrick, cops received information to suggest that Hershall had not been seen for weeks, and so the probe switched to a homicide investigation.

Advert

Afzal continued: "It was such a tragic thing; not that we don't see tragedies all the time in Dayton, but when you have a non-verbal, autistic kid - somebody helpless, who should be taken care of and looked after.

"The fact that he was deceased for several weeks, and we didn't even get a call. We get a call in the manner that we get, which is, 'hey, the the child was kidnapped' - not that something tragic happened. 'I'm just calling you, I finally have a clear conscience'."

Michael Kendrick has been arrested and charged after dialling 911 to report that Hershall had been missing (Dayton Police Department)
Michael Kendrick has been arrested and charged after dialling 911 to report that Hershall had been missing (Dayton Police Department)

Tragically, Hershall has an older sister who has since been taken into the care of the state with a foster family, and it is understood that Hershall was known to the Children's Services Bureau - although a case was not open at the time of his death.

Advert

Hershall was under the custody of his mom when he disappeared, although he had previously lived with his grandmother before he was given back to his mom.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.

Featured Image Credit: Dayton Police Department

Topics: Crime, US News

Joe Yates
Joe Yates

Joe is a journalist for UNILAD, who particularly enjoys writing about crime. He has worked in journalism for five years, and has covered everything from murder trials to celeb news.

X

@JMYjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • Ukraine Armed Forces — 58th Separate Motorized Infantry BrigadeUkraine Armed Forces — 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade
    7 hours ago

    Unbelievable footage shows moment Ukraine blows up two key Russian bridges using their own mines amid WW3 fears

    A Ukrainian brigade confirmed the attack took place on August 23 - days after Trump met with Russian President Putin

    News
  • FREDERIC J. BROWN/GettyFREDERIC J. BROWN/Getty
    7 hours ago

    Family sues Elon Musk’s Tesla after alleging Cybertruck owner’s bones disintegrated in inferno after crash

    Michael Sheehan, 47, became trapped inside his Cybertruck when the battery burst into flames

    News
  • ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/GettyANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/Getty
    7 hours ago

    Four bizarre reasons people thought Trump had died as he’s pictured for the first time since rumors broke internet

    The US President was pictured on the South Lawn in the capital on Saturday

    News
  • Nadina/CC BY-SA 3.0Nadina/CC BY-SA 3.0
    8 hours ago

    Terrifying skull found in cave wall leaves scientists baffled as it’s not human or Neanderthal

    It's believed the skull was first found in the 1960s

    News