Officials in Ohio revealed on Tuesday that a state agency will assess the handling of abuse allegations by child services, which were brought to light before the tragic abduction and murder of a 13-year-old girl last month.
The executive director of Lucas County Children Services, Randy Muth, disclosed that an internal review will be conducted to evaluate their response to abuse claims concerning Kei’mani Latigue. The agency had been informed of three reports: one in December 2023 and two in March 2024, all indicating that Latigue’s grandmother was employing excessive discipline on her.
One of the reports was submitted by a school staff member. Despite these alerts, Children Services concluded in each instance that Latigue was not in immediate danger and was considered safe within her home.
READ: Slain 13-Year-Old Girl Was Raped, Nearly Decapitated & Had Hands Cut Off
Notably, the agency said it had no evidence that anyone was living in the home, including Latigue’s father, Darnell Jones, 33, who is charged with her murder.
According to WTVG, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth will review Lucas County Children Services’ handling of this case. No timeline was given as to when they will start their investigation.
Previously, Lucas County Children Services said it provided Latigue’s grandmother with “appropriate discipline” methods and referred the family to a care program for children with “complex behavioral health” needs.
Latigue vanished from her Toledo home on March 17. A week later, she was found dead on the second floor of a burned-out house. Lucas County coroners said she died from multiple incised wounds of the neck. According to Columbus police Lieutenant Brian Steel, she was raped, had her hands severed, and her throat nearly cut off.
The same day Latigue’s body was discovered, an arrest warrant was issued for Jones for child abduction. He is now charged with murder, felonious assault, and third-degree felony abduction.
Before his arrest, Jones said he last saw Latigue on March 16 after she called and said she was afraid to be home alone. However, police said Jones provided inconsistent accounts of his correspondence with his daughter or her whereabouts.
On Tuesday, Jones was shot during a SWAT standoff in Columbus which ended with his arrest. A local police officer shot Jones after he allegedly brandished a gun during an altercation with a SWAT officer.
Latigue’s grandmother has not been criminally charged. Jones has not been in court as he remains hospitalized.
[Feature Photo: Handout]
