ASHTABULA, Ohio (WJW) A renewed push to solve one of Ohio’s oldest missing child cases has brought police and federal agents back to the very home where 14-year-old Donnell White Jr. lived more than three decades ago.
This week, investigators with Ashtabula police and the U.S. Marshals spent three days digging in the backyard of a West 38th Street home searching for any clues that could finally crack the case wide open.
Donnell vanished in August of 1991. The teenager, who spent his days fishing and playing basketball, was last seen in his neighborhood in Ashtabula, Ohio, about 60 miles east of Cleveland.
His mother reported him missing days later before relocating out of state and changing her name. His father never left the area.
For years, the case went cold.
But recently, the U.S. Marshals partnered with local police to reopen the investigation.
“We pushed out some stuff to the media that has resulted in some tips that have come in,” said Lt. Michael Palinkas of the Ashtabula Police Department.
Those tips led authorities to Donnell’s former home where they began digging for evidence in the backyard on Tuesday.
“The family here couldn’t be more cooperative,” said Vinny Piccoli with the U.S. Marshals. “When we get tips in, we have to vet them. And we thoroughly vet them.”
While it remains unclear if any evidence was recovered during this week’s search, officials said it’s an important step forward not just for the investigation, but for keeping Donnell’s story alive.
“We firmly believe there are other people we haven’t had the opportunity to speak with that know something,” Palinkas said. “It would be great for them to come forward.”
The U.S. Marshals echoed that call for information.
“We are just looking for the public’s help in bringing closure to the family in this case,” Piccoli said.
