A teenager who had been missing for 263 days has been located safe at the residence of a former teacher in Springfield, Ohio. The girl went missing from the Huckleberry House, a transitional living facility in Columbus, on December 2, 2025, at the age of 16 and has since turned 17.
The search concluded on August 21 when local police and a U.S. Marshals Service task force arrived at a Springfield address, identified in court filings as the last known location of the missing girl. The property belongs to Jobe Binkley, a 48-year-old former educator in the Springfield City School District.
According to court documents, Binkley admitted the teenager was inside his home and called for her to come out. This marked the third visit by law enforcement to the property in their efforts to locate her. During prior visits, Binkley allegedly declined permission for police to conduct searches and insisted that the girl was not present, even after being alerted that she was classified as a missing person.
Binkley is now facing a charge of interference with custody, a first-degree misdemeanor in Ohio, to which he has pleaded not guilty, and he has been released on bond. A pre-trial hearing is set for September 30.
Personnel documents acquired by local news indicate that Binkley had previously worked with the Springfield City School District and was placed on administrative leave in November 2024 amid concerns about his interactions with students. Although an investigation was conducted, it did not substantiate the claims. He was later dismissed from his position in February 2025 for violating the district’s technology policy. The district stated they were unaware of any allegations concerning the missing teen until after Binkley’s departure.
Former Franklin County prosecutor Ron O’Brien noted that investigators may probe Binkley’s and the teenager’s phones for insights regarding the time she was missing. He explained that additional charges could arise based on what evidence emerges from the investigation.
Authorities have not disclosed the teen’s condition or location following her discovery. The specifics surrounding the 263 days of her disappearance remain unclear.
