7-Year-Old Autistic Boy Found Dead; Mother and Boyfriend Arrested

Discovery of Hershel Creachbaum's Remains

• 💔 A seven-year-old non-verbal autistic boy, Hershel Creachbaum, who used a wheelchair, was reported missing by his mother's boyfriend, Michael Kendrick.
• 🔍 Police were initially called to a report of a kidnapping but discovered Hershel had been deceased for several weeks.
• 📍 Hershel's remains were eventually recovered near railroad tracks, leading to a homicide investigation.

Allegations Against Mother and Boyfriend

• 🏥 Hershel's mother, Ashley Johnson, allegedly confessed that her son died in late May while she was hospitalized for surgery.
• 👨‍👦 She claims her boyfriend, Michael Kendrick, was responsible for Hershel's death and the subsequent disposal of his body.
• 💥 Michael Kendrick allegedly told police he punched Hershel twice in the head and pushed him, causing him to fall and strike other body parts.

Cover-up and Investigation Details

• 🧊 Kendrick reportedly kept Hershel's body in the home until an odor became apparent, then placed it in a freezer.
• 🧳 He allegedly used a suitcase to dispose of the body in a grassy field near railroad tracks weeks before reporting him missing.
• 📞 Weeks later, Kendrick placed a 911 call reporting Hershel kidnapped, allegedly while intoxicated.

Preliminary Charges and Autopsy Importance

• ⚖️ Michael Kendrick faces charges including tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse, with a prior felony record.
• 📝 Ashley Johnson is charged with obstruction of justice and failure to report a death, with a prior misdemeanor theft conviction.
• 🔬 An autopsy is considered crucial to establish the cause and manner of death, which will determine if homicide charges are warranted.

Ongoing Investigation and Child Welfare

• 🏠 Investigators removed numerous items from the home as part of the ongoing investigation.
• 👶 Another child residing in the home has been placed in the custody of child and family services.
• ⏳ The significant time lapse between Hershel's alleged death and the discovery of his remains complicates the forensic investigation but strengthens the case for obstruction and failure to report charges.