A woman in Ohio has been taken into custody after a frightening incident that began with a missing child report and ended with police discovering several young children alone inside an apartment.
According to a report by WHIO-TV, Franklin police were called to the Emerald Edge Apartments early Saturday morning after receiving a 911 call that turned into an open line. When officers arrived to investigate, they discovered three young children—ages 7, 4, and 2—inside the apartment with no adult supervision.
During the investigation, officers learned that another child who lived in the residence, a six-year-old, had wandered away from the apartment. The child’s disappearance triggered a large search effort involving multiple agencies, including the Franklin Division of Police, Franklin Division of Fire, and other assisting law enforcement partners.
Authorities quickly mobilized to locate the missing child, conducting a coordinated search of the surrounding area. Fortunately, the six-year-old was eventually found safe, and officials confirmed that the child did not suffer any injuries.
The incident led to the arrest of 25-year-old Kerri Steinmetz. Police said she now faces one felony charge of inducing panic along with three misdemeanor counts of child endangerment.
Investigators said the felony charge stems from the significant emergency response required to locate the missing child. The search involved multiple departments and resources as officers worked to ensure the child’s safety.
Meanwhile, the discovery of three other young children left alone in the apartment raised additional concerns for authorities. Police said the children were found inside the residence during the investigation, prompting the child endangerment charges.
The situation drew attention from neighbors and responders alike, as incidents involving unattended children and missing minors often require immediate action from emergency services.
Online jail records show that Steinmetz was booked into the Warren County Jail following the incident. Her bond has been set at just over $5,200 for the combined charges.
Officials have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the children being left alone or how long they may have been unattended. Authorities also did not say how far the six-year-old had traveled from the apartment before being located.
Despite the alarming situation, police confirmed that all of the children were ultimately found safe and unharmed.
The case remains under investigation as authorities continue reviewing the events that led to the emergency call and the subsequent search for the missing child.
