CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Authorities in Chillicothe are investigating a report of a possible kidnapping that has become clouded by inconsistencies in the victim’s story.
On March 22nd, deputies responded to a call from a 15-year-old girl (name withheld) who claimed she was grabbed by a male suspect and forced into a vehicle. The girl reportedly stated she escaped and ran home, taking a picture of the suspect before calling law enforcement.
However, inconsistencies arose during the investigation, the sheriff’s office said in their report. Initially, the girl said the incident occurred outside her apartment complex. Later, she claimed the suspect drove her to a nearby church parking lot before she escaped.
Deputies said they also discovered discrepancies regarding the photo evidence. According to the report, the girl insisted she took the picture with her phone camera, but the file name indicated it came from Snapchat. Deputies said, the picture allegedly contained a filter and appeared to be taken from the backseat of a vehicle, contradicting the initial story.
The girl’s father arrived on the scene and confirmed receiving text messages from his daughter during the alleged abduction. He advised her to call 911.
When confronted with the inconsistencies, the girl maintained her story, but deputies were unable to corroborate her claims. No witnesses reported seeing the abduction, and security cameras in the area did not capture the alleged incident.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are attempting to identify the male in the photograph and will follow up with the girl’s school. No charges have been filed at this time.
NOTE: Information for this story was sourced from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office report. Any discrepancies should be referred to the reporting agency.