One Week After Disappearance, Body of Toledo Teen Found in Abandoned House – Father Charged with Murder
A week after a 13-year-old girl went missing in Toledo, Ohio, police discovered her body in an abandoned house—a location her mother insisted she would never have gone. Authorities have since charged the girl’s father with her murder.
Body of 13-Year-Old Keimani Latigue Found in Abandoned Toledo House
On Monday, March 24, Toledo police discovered the body of 13-year-old Keimani Latigue on the second floor of an abandoned house on Miami Street.
Father Charged with Murder After Body of 13-Year-Old Keimani Latigue Found in Abandoned House
According to a report by 13ABC, the Lucas County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identity of 13-year-old Keimani Latigue and scheduled an autopsy for Tuesday to determine her cause of death.
Initially, police charged her father, 33-year-old Darnell Jones, with abduction on Sunday. Following the discovery and confirmation of Keimani’s body, the charge was upgraded to murder.
Evidence Leads to Murder Charge Against Father of 13-Year-Old Keimani Latigue
Authorities filed murder charges against 33-year-old Darnell Jones based on evidence from phone records, surveillance footage, and witness interviews. According to the arrest warrant, Jones allegedly took his daughter Keimani Latigue from her home without her guardian’s consent.
Police noted that Jones provided “inconsistent statements about his activity with the victim” and their whereabouts. He was also the last person seen with Keimani before her disappearance.
Mother Speaks Out as Father Faces Murder Charge in Death of 13-Year-Old Keimani Latigue
According to reports, Darnell Jones last brought Keimani Latigue to her mother, Tiara Kasten’s, home on March 15. “I saw her on the 15th. Her dad brought her down to my house,” Tiara said. “Apparently, my mother gave him permission, and honestly, it was just loving on my kid. We play video games.”
Tiara described her daughter as someone who followed a regular routine—attending school, playing basketball, and returning home. She emphasized that Keimani had no reason to be near the abandoned house where police later found her body.
Family Searched Desperately Before 13-Year-Old Keimani Latigue’s Body Was Found
At the time of Keimani Latigue’s disappearance, her father, Darnell Jones, claimed he last saw her late on March 16. “I came over here because she said that it seemed like somebody was trying to break into the house. Me and my cousin sat over here for an hour and we left around 12:30-ish,” he explained.
Before police discovered Keimani’s body, her family spent days searching and pleading for help. In a report from March 20, her grandmother, Dorothy Latigue, stressed that the 13-year-old had never run away before. “She always calls me and asks me prior to going somewhere,” she said.
Family Describes Keimani Latigue as Responsible Before Her Tragic Death
Keimani Latigue’s grandmother, Dorothy Latigue, described the 13-year-old as a “latchkey kid” who carried her own house keys and a phone to stay in touch. She emphasized that Keimani was “very responsible” and capable of taking care of herself.
Keimani was last seen after 10 p.m. on Sunday. When Dorothy returned home from work the following morning, she noticed something was wrong. “It was Monday morning, and when I came home, she wasn’t here,” she recounted, adding that the door had been left unlocked.
Grandmother Grew Concerned After Discovering Keimani Missing
Dorothy Latigue said Keimani was supposed to be on her way to school, but when she arrived home, she found the house in complete disarray. Growing worried, she called the school to speak with her granddaughter, only to learn that Keimani had not arrived.
Grandmother Finds Troubling Signs of Foul Play at Keimani Latigue’s Home
Dorothy Latigue discovered several troubling signs when she found her granddaughter’s belongings at the house. Keimani’s keys and glasses were still there, and Dorothy pointed out that the teen couldn’t see clearly without them. She also noticed the stove was on, with the strong smell of gas in the air.
“Other than her and I, it’s just two dogs in the house. So, who turned it on? That was kind of suspicious,” Dorothy said. She also found Keimani’s glasses and underclothes near the couch, while the teen’s pajamas were scattered on the dining room floor.
Volunteers Rally to Search for Missing Keimani Latigue in North Toledo
In the days following Keimani Latigue’s disappearance, search efforts focused on North Toledo, where she was last seen. On March 21, volunteers gathered near East Manhattan and Stickney, canvassing the area block by block with flyers.
People from across Ohio joined the search, with many saying they participated because they would want the same support if it were their own child.
Keimani’s Mother Joins Search Efforts, Overwhelmed by Stress and Gratitude for Support
Keimani Latigue’s mother, Tiara Kasten, traveled from Cleveland to join the search for her daughter. At the time, she shared that she hadn’t slept or eaten in days, feeling physically overwhelmed by the stress of the situation.
Tiara welcomed all forms of support. “Whether it’s a social media post, whether it’s you hanging up a flyer, or whether you’re just bringing up her name in conversation and making sure that people hear about her, it still makes a difference,” she said.
Keimani Latigue’s 14th Birthday Approaches as Investigation Continues After Tragic Discovery
At the time of her disappearance, Keimani Latigue was just days away from her 14th birthday. Tiara Kasten described her daughter as a “very loving, very caring” child who was deeply compassionate and brought joy to those around her.
With the discovery of Keimani’s body and charges now filed against her father, the investigation remains active. “Until we’re done doing the whole investigation, I can’t tell you how many people are involved,” Lt. Dan Gerken of Toledo Police stated.
Keimani Latigue’s Case Echoes Tragic Incident of Missing Toddler Found Dead in Oregon
Keimani Latigue’s case mirrors another heartbreaking incident earlier this month, when a missing toddler was found dead in Oregon. Both cases have drawn attention to the devastating realities of child disappearances and the toll they take on families and communities.
Authorities Confirm Discovery of Missing 2-Year-Old Dane Paulsen After Nearly Two Weeks of Searching
After nearly two weeks of searching, authorities confirmed on March 11 that they had found 2-year-old Dane Paulsen in the Siletz River, about three miles downstream from his family’s property. Dane had been missing since March 1.
Authorities Confirm Toddler Dane Paulsen Found Deceased in Oregon River
“Sadly, he was found deceased,” the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office announced in a Facebook press release. They added that investigators were processing the scene in coordination with the Lincoln County Medical Examiner’s Office. At the time, officials stated that no further details were available.
Volunteer Diver Assists in Search for Missing Toddler, Discovery Confirmed by Authorities
According to the sheriff’s office, volunteer diver Juan Heredia from the Angels Recovery Dive Team assisted in the search after connecting with authorities. Guided by a local river expert, he searched areas downstream from those already covered by sheriff’s office divers and discovered the child at approximately 11:13 a.m.
Following the discovery, authorities expressed their deep sadness over the loss. “Our thoughts are with the family, who are facing an unbearable sorrow,” Sheriff Adam Shanks said.
