Father charged with murder in case of missing Ohio teen

  • Keimani Latigue, 13, disappeared last week
  • Her body was found in an abandoned home in Toledo
  • Warrant out for father, who faces murder charge
Keimani Latigue

Missing teenager Keimani Latigue was found dead in an abandoned home in Toledo. (Toledo Police)

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(NewsNation) — The body of a missing teenage girl was found in an abandoned house on Monday, and her father has been charged with murder.

Authorities in Toledo, Ohio, confirmed the body belonged to 13-year-old Keimani Latigue, who had been reported missing last week. An autopsy will be performed to determine how she died, authorities said.

Keimani’s body was reportedly found on the second floor of an abandoned house in the city. Her mother, Tiara Kasten, told local reporters there was no reason for Keimani to be in the area.

Keimani Latigue’s mother last saw her on March 15

According to her mother, Keimani only went to school, to basketball and back home. Kasten said she last saw her daughter on March 15, when Keimani’s father brought her to Kasten’s home and they played video games.

Keimani’s father, Darnell Jones, was initially charged with abduction. After Latigue’s body was discovered, Toledo Police announced he had been charged with murder and that there was an open warrant for his arrest.

An affidavit alleges Jones was the last person with Keimani before she disappeared. Investigators said he gave inconsistent statements about his activity and Keimani’s whereabouts. The affidavit cited phone and surveillance video as evidence when filing charges.

Keimani Latigue lived with her grandmother

After Keimani was reported missing, Jones told reporters he saw her late on the night of March 16. He said she called and said she was afraid to be home alone, so he and his cousin went to sit with her.

Keimani lived with her grandmother, Dorothy Latigue, who said when she arrived home the following day, the house was a mess, the stove was left on and Keimani’s keys and glasses were in the home even though Keimani could not see without them.

Crime

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