Ohio officials announced on Friday that there was no evidence of mistreatment prior to the presumed abduction and murder of a 13-year-old girl by her father at the end of last month.

Lucas County Children Services informed WTOL that they had been alerted to three separate incidents — one in December 2023 and two in March 2024 — while Kei’mani Latigue was living with her grandmother. After investigating, which included speaking with the teenager, the agency decided not to remove Latigue from her grandmother’s care.

Lucas County Children Services stated they advised the grandmother on suitable disciplinary methods and recommended the family join a program designed for children with intricate behavioral health challenges. Furthermore, they mentioned that Darnell Jones, 33, was not identified as Latigue’s father in these reports, and none of them alleged any abuse by him, as per WTOL.

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’ arrignment was postponed as he remains hospitalized in stable condition.

[Feature Photo: Handout]