CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A man from Chillicothe, was taken into custody on April 27, after a young child was discovered wandering on Cooks Hill Road, just south of the city. The Guardian previously reported on this story, but since then new details have been released in the case.
According to information from the sheriff’s office, the child was found by a resident and an off-duty trooper who then called the authorities.
Upon arrival, deputies from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office began searching for the child’s family. Deputy Baldridge located a residence nearby with an open back door and attempted to make contact with the resident inside. The man, who identified himself as Ronnie Smith, could not provide identification when asked by law enforcement. While investigating, Child Protective Services was contacted, and investigators discovered two other small children inside the residence during a welfare check.
Deputies, reports say, demanded proof of the man’s identification and during the investigation, the man fled out of the back door. Authorities initiated a search and later identified the man as Ronald Whitlock. As a result of Whitlock leaving the children alone in the residence, CPS requested an emergency removal order and took the children into their custody.
Later in the day, Whitlock was reportedly seen returning to the residence by neighbors. The Ross County Sheriff’s Office and Chillicothe Police Department surrounded the home and attempted to make contact with Whitlock. After receiving permission from the children’s mother, police entered the residence and found Whitlock hiding inside a “hollowed-out” box spring on the floor.
Whitlock was arrested and transported to the Ross County Jail. He faces charges of child endangering, obstruction of justice, and falsification. Additionally, he had a previous warrant for his arrest for theft.
