COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A new report has revealed the number of children who went missing in Ohio increased in 2023, and highlights unsolved disappearances dating to 1928. 

The Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse is a repository for statistics and information about missing children in the state. All 50 states have missing child clearinghouses, which provide resources for missing children, their families and the professionals who serve them, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

In its report for 2023 issued by the Ohio attorney general, the clearinghouse documented 22,374 people went missing in Ohio; an increase of 1,757 people compared to the year prior. Of the missing people, 17,405 were missing children — 1,850 more than the state saw in 2022. 

Of the children reported missing, 9,571 were females and 7,829 were males. 15,692 were aged 13 through 17, 1,541 were aged 6 through 12 and 172 were aged 0 through 5. Authorities reported that 98% of the missing children, or 17,033, were recovered safely by the end of the year. Five of the missing children were found dead. 367 children are still missing.

In missing child cases where the circumstances were specified, 9,469 cases involved a runaway, 35 cases involved an abduction from a noncustodial parent and 15 cases involved abduction by a stranger. 

Law enforcement officials issued 13 Amber Alerts in 2023, involving 17 children. Sixteen children were safely recovered, and one child, 16-year-old Keshaun Williams, remains missing. Ten Endangered Missing Child Alerts were also issued, involving 12 children. These alerts are used to seek assistance for a missing child when law enforcement cannot determine whether the child was abducted, but the disappearance otherwise meets Amber Alert criteria. All 12 children were recovered safely.

Northeast Ohio experienced some of the highest numbers in the state, with over 5,400 missing child reports originating from the Cleveland, Akron, and Canton areas – Cuyahoga County accounted for 2,959 of those cases. Central Ohio followed behind with 4,090 missing child reports, with over half of those coming from Franklin County (3,252).

The counties that saw the highest number of missing children reports in Ohio, Franklin and Cuyahoga, are also the most populous counties in the state. 

In Ohio, the report states there were 12 attempted child abductions in 2023, which involved seven girls and five boys, and resulted in eight arrests. The suspects were driving in a vehicle in 58% of the attempted abductions. Among the incidents where the suspect’s method is known, 66% used physical force or a weapon and 33% engaged the child in conversation by asking for help or directions. 

The report also highlights four unsolved cases of missing children, all who have been missing for over a decade. Melvin Horst went missing from Orrville in December 1928 at 4 years old. At the time of his disappearance, he took a small red toy truck and went to play with four friends a block from his home. His friends told authorities that Horst left to walk home. He never arrived at his house, but the toy was found in his front yard. Today, Horst would be 99 years old. 

Ashley Norah vanished from Columbus in June 2002 at 17 years old. While the report provided little details surrounding her disappearance, it states her ears were pierced, she had a birthmark on the back of her leg and braces when she was last seen. Today, she would be 39 years old. 

Glenna White went missing from Alliance in June 2009 at 17 years old. She had a tattoo on her right arm of a Yin-Yang and sunburst, a scar on her left wrist and her nose, lip and ears were pierced. She was last seen wearing a green tank top, black pants and black shoes with red hearts on them. A local man was charged with killing White after she was allegedly last seen with him, which ended in a mistrial. A body has never been discovered.

Zaden McKnight went missing from Dayton in March 2014 at 4 years old. McKnight was last seen with his mother, Nichelle, who was shot to death. The main suspect in Nichelle’s death died by suicide. Zaden was last known to be wearing blue jeans, a yellow hat, a yellow and blue coat, and red velcro shoes with Lighting McQueen on them. Today, he would be 14 years old.

Data from the clearinghouse report is taken from missing child reports from law enforcement, which is entered into the National Crime Information Center database. Once a child is found, the report is closed and the case is updated in the database.