ATHENS, Ohio — Two parents have been charged with child endangering and a third man is wanted on a murder charge in connection with the death of their 8-year-old child, the Athens County Sheriff’s Office announced.
Hannah Edinger, 29, and Justin Dye, 25, were arrested Oct. 28 on felony warrants with assistance from the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office. Both were charged with endangering children, a third-degree felony. They were taken into custody without incident, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators say the couple’s child was left in the care of William Alex McCallister on Feb. 21. “During this time, McCallister is alleged to have inflicted fatal injuries upon the child, resulting in her death on February 26, 2026,” Sheriff Rodney Smith said in a statement.
McCallister, 32, is now wanted on a murder charge, and the sheriff’s office is asking the public for help finding him. “We are asking anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of William Alex McCallister to contact the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could be important in locating him,” Smith said in the release.
The sheriff’s office said it remains committed to dedicating all available resources to McCallister’s apprehension. To preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, no additional details were released, and the office said updates will be provided as they become available.
Suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
