7-Year-Old Boy, Hershall Creachbaum, Was Dead for Weeks Before He Was Reported Missing – Police Report

Authorities in Dayton, Ohio, have confirmed that remains believed to be 7-year-old Hershall Creachbaum were discovered over the weekend, weeks after he had died. Investigation into the case remains active.

Creachbaum was first reported kidnapped early Saturday morning, July 12, 2025, from the 400 block of Xenia Avenue. A massive search effort was launched, but investigators quickly learned he had not been seen for several weeks.

The case then shifted from a missing child search to a homicide investigation.

A short time later, police found remains on McClure Street, a location close to where the child was last reported. Though official identification is pending from the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, police believe the remains are those of the little boy.

“This callousness shown in this situation towards this child is horrendous and truly evil,” Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal said during a press briefing.

His mother, Ashley Johnson, and her boyfriend, Michael Kendrick, now face criminal charges in connection with the boy’s death.

Police arrested the 38-year-old Kendrick on Saturday night. He was later charged with three counts of tampering with evidence and one count of gross abuse of a corpse.

Creachbaum’s mother was also arrested on Monday, July 14, 2025, and charged with obstruction of justice and failure to report a death.

Both Johnson and Kendrick have prior criminal histories. Johnson for theft, and Kendrick for charges including aggravated arson, theft, and having weapons under disability.

Police Chief Afzal stated these charges are preliminary and that more may follow pending the coroner’s forensic examination of the 7-year-old’s remains.

Just hours before the remains were found, Dayton Police and Fire issued a public alert asking for help locating Creachbaum. He was described as nonverbal, on the autism spectrum, and physically impaired, though capable of walking short distances.

He had last been seen wearing a gray T-shirt with cartoon characters and gray sweatpants. His wheelchair had already been located.

The department later issued a tragic update, reporting that a deceased juvenile believed to be the little boy had been found.

Meanwhile, in an interview with News Center 7’s John Bedell, family members revealed that concerns for Creachbaum’s welfare had been building for months.

One of the family members told Bedell, “We shouldn’t be burying this boy at 7. He had his whole life ahead of him.” Chasity Rollins, also identified as the child’s cousin, but described herself as a primary caretaker, said his death was “senseless.”

She also explained that she had been involved in Creachbaum’s daily life since infancy, attending doctor’s appointments and driving him to school.

She said things changed after Creachbaum’s paternal grandmother, who had legal custody, was injured in a car accident in November.

While the grandmother recovered, Johnson took over care and, by late May, she allegedly began refusing to let extended family visit.

“They would not allow grandma or anybody else into the home,” Rollins said. “She gave every excuse she could to keep everybody out of the home.”

Municipal court records further reveal harrowing details of Creachbaum’s final days. While Johnson was in the hospital in late May for surgery, Kendrick admitted to hitting Creachbaum twice during a phone argument while drinking.

He reportedly pushed the boy down, causing him to hit the floor and other surfaces. The child died the next day, according to Kendrick’s statement.

Rather than notify authorities, Kendrick reportedly kept the body in the home until the odor became too strong. He then placed the body in a deep freezer. Weeks later, he used a suitcase to transport Creachbaum’s remains to a grassy field.

Eventually, Kendrick retrieved what was left and placed the remains in a bag on McClure Street, where police later found them. His bond was set at $2 million during a court appearance on Tuesday.

In a Facebook post, the boy’s grandmother expressed her heartbreak, saying she could not bring herself to say goodbye. She wrote that it felt like she was living in a bad dream and pleaded for her grandson to come home.

In a second post, she thanked the Dayton community for the outpouring of support. She later added, in another post, “Autism is real people a child helpless non verbal wasn’t able fight .please anyone has a child with handicaps keep your baby safe there bad people in this world [sic].”

The community has responded to Creachbaum’s death with grief and calls for action. A memorial site has grown on McClure Street near U.S. 35, where people have left flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, and handwritten signs reading “Justice 4 Hershall” and “We all matter.”

One local father, Ben Laprairie, said he and his family were moved by the news coverage and wanted to pay their respects at the site.

In addition, a petition has been launched to create a public mural in the little boy’s memory. The proposed mural would be painted by local artists at no cost to the city and serve as a place of healing and awareness.

“Let Hershall’s name be remembered—not just for the tragedy he endured, but for the love, unity, and awareness his story can inspire,” the petition partially reads.

Organizers hope to use a city-owned bridge or wall space for the artwork. The project would aim to honor Creachbaum and raise awareness about child abuse and the vulnerabilities of children with disabilities.

As the Dayton community continues to mourn, authorities are still working closely with prosecutors and the coroner’s office. More information will be provided as it’s made available.