A mother and her boyfriend have been arrested in connection to the tragic death of her 7-year-old son, Hershall Creachbaum, whose remains were found near their home. The boy’s death, initially thought to be a kidnapping case, has taken a disturbing turn as police uncover troubling details about his final days.
Discovery of Hershall’s Remains
On Saturday, Hershall Creachbaum was reported missing by his mother’s boyfriend, 39-year-old Michael Kendrick. However, just hours later, the remains of a child were found less than half a mile from the home. Dayton Police quickly suspected that the remains belonged to Hershall, a nonverbal autistic child who used a wheelchair.
As the investigation into the boy’s supposed kidnapping unfolded, police discovered that Hershall had not been seen for weeks before the report of his disappearance. This raised serious questions about the timeline of events leading to his death.
Mother’s Admission of Hershall’s Death
When questioned by police, 36-year-old Ashley H. Johnson, Hershall’s mother, revealed a shocking truth. She told authorities that her son had died sometime while she was in the hospital undergoing surgery in late May. According to court documents, she stated that Hershall was in Kendrick’s care at the time of his death.
Police Chief Kamran Afzal confirmed in a press conference that Hershall had not been seen for weeks before he was reported missing and that it was believed he had been dead the entire time.
Kendrick’s Confession
Initially, Kendrick told police that Hershall had died from natural causes. However, he later changed his story, allegedly confessing that he had physically abused the boy.
According to court documents, Kendrick admitted to punching Hershall and pushing him down, causing him to bounce off the floor and strike other parts of his body. Kendrick also claimed that Hershall died in the shower.
Kendrick reportedly admitted to hiding the boy’s body in the home until it began to smell. He then placed the remains in a freezer before stuffing the body into a suitcase and dumping it in a grassy field near train tracks.
Shockingly, Kendrick returned to the scene weeks later, moved the remains, and left them at the location where they were found.
Family Concerns and Child Welfare Involvement
Family members had expressed concerns about Hershall for months before his death. According to relatives, Hershall had been living with his paternal grandmother until she was injured in a car accident, at which point Johnson regained custody.
Montgomery County Children Services had been involved with the family in the past, and they had taken custody of Hershall’s sister after his death.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
While neither Johnson nor Kendrick has been officially charged with murder, both have been taken into custody. Johnson is facing charges of failure to report a death and obstructing justice, with a bond set at $2,000.
Kendrick has been charged with three counts of tampering with evidence and one count of abuse of a corpse. Jail records also list charges of murder, child endangerment, and assault, but formal charges have not yet been filed. Kendrick is being held without bond.
This case remains under investigation, and authorities continue to piece together the tragic circumstances surrounding Hershall’s death.
