Missing Ohio teenager found at home of former teacher

An Ohio teenager who had been missing for 263 days was found at the home of a former teacher, according to authorities.

The now-17-year-old vanished on December 2, 2025, sparking a near-nine-month search for the teenager. She was finally found on August 21 when an agent working with the U.S. Marshal’s Office tracked down the girl at an address in Springfield, Clark County.

Jobe Binkley, a 48-year-old property owner, has been arrested on one count of interference with custody. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge, according to court and jail records obtained by The Independent.

Speaking to the officer, Binkley had acknowledged that the girl was inside his property and called for her to come out.

During two previous visits, authorities had been refused entry to the address, with Binkley claiming that she was not there, despite being informed that she was a missing person, the records state.

According to personnel files obtained by ABC 6, Binkley is a former teacher who worked with the Springfield City School District. He was placed on administrative leave back in November 2024 after concerns were raised over his professional interactions with students.

Those claims were ruled to be unsubstantiated by the district, the records indicate, but Binkley was placed on administrative leave again in January 2025. He was fired in February for violating policy related to the use of technology.

It is not yet clear if Binkley ever taught the teenager.

The Independent has contacted the Springfield City School District for further comment.

Former Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien told ABC 6 that investigators may examine Binkley and the teenager’s cell phones, with the ex-teacher potentially facing additional charges.

“If you have an adult trying to take advantage of a minor, oftentimes, the only charge you might be able to lodge at the outset is an interference with custody,” O’Brien said. “Oftentimes, you really need the cooperation of the minor to do that.

“Sometimes they’re willing to provide that information and other times not.”

A pre-trial hearing for Binkley has been scheduled for later this month.

The Independent has contacted Joseph M. Juergens, Binkley’s attorney.

Danielle Flint, who lives near the home where the teenager was found, told the outlet that she had seen posts on Facebook that suggested the juvenile was at the address.

“I’ve tried to peek around here and see if I can catch her, you know, in the back or maybe out of the house at night, but I had never seen her,” Flint said. “I would literally lose every piece of me if that was one of my girls.”