A missing child case in Toledo, Ohio, has ended in tragedy after authorities discovered the body of 13-year-old Keimani Latigue in an abandoned house. Now, her father is under investigation.
Toledo police found Keimani’s body on Monday, March 24, inside a vacant home on Miami Street. The Lucas County Coroner’s Office later confirmed her identity and scheduled an autopsy for Tuesday to determine the cause of death, according to 13ABC.
Police Upgrade Charges Against Father After Missing 13-Year-Old’s Body Found in Abandoned House
Authorities have upgraded charges against 33-year-old Darnell Jones after discovering the body of his missing daughter, 13-year-old Keimani Latigue, in an abandoned house on Miami Street.
Jones was initially charged with abduction on Sunday, but after investigators recovered Keimani’s body and reviewed additional evidence—including phone records, surveillance footage, and witness statements—the charge was escalated to murder later that day.
Last Known Moments
According to an arrest warrant, Jones allegedly took Keimani from her home without her guardian’s consent. He also provided “inconsistent statements about his activity with the victim” and was the last person seen with her before she disappeared.
Family members stated that Jones last brought Keimani to her mother’s home on March 15. Her mother, Tiara Kasten, described her as a routine-driven girl who balanced school, basketball, and home life. She insisted Keimani had no reason to be near the abandoned house where she was later found.
“Apparently, my mother gave him permission, and honestly, it was just loving on my kid. We play video games,” Kasten said.
Jones claimed he last saw Keimani late on March 16. “I came over here because she said it seemed like somebody was trying to break into the house. Me and my cousin sat over here for an hour and left around 12:30-ish,” he explained.
Desperate Search Ends in Tragedy
Before Keimani’s body was found, her family spent days searching and pleading for help. On March 20, her grandmother, Dorothy Latigue, stated that the teen had never run away before.
“She always calls me and asks me before going somewhere,” she said.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding Keimani’s tragic death.
Dorothy described the teen as a “latchkey kid” who carried her own house keys and a phone to stay in contact. She said the teen was responsible and capable of taking care of herself.
Keimani had not been seen since late Sunday night. Dorothy later realized that something was wrong the next morning when she returned from work and found the house in disarray. “It was Monday morning and when I came home, she wasn’t here,” the grandmother recalled.
She added that her granddaughter was expected to be on her way to school that morning, but when she didn’t return home, she grew concerned. After calling the school, she learned that Keimani had never arrived.
Dorothy also noted that Keimani’s keys and glasses were still at the house, emphasizing that the teen couldn’t see without them. She also discovered the stove was on and smelled gas.
“Other than her and me, it’s just two dogs in the house. So, who turned it on? That was kind of suspicious,” she said. “Her glasses and underclothes were by the couch in the front room. Her pajamas were on the dining room floor.”
In the days that followed, family, friends, and even strangers searched tirelessly for Keimani. Much of the effort focused on North Toledo, where she was last seen. On March 21, volunteers gathered near East Manhattan and Stickney, forming a search party that combed the area block by block, handing out flyers.
Keimani’s mother, Tiara, traveled from Cleveland to join the search, grateful for any form of support. “Whether it’s a social media post, hanging up a flyer, or just mentioning her name in conversation to keep awareness alive, it all makes a difference,” she said.
Tiara described her daughter as loving, caring, and full of energy. “She’s a funny, happy-go-lucky kid,” she added.
Keimani vanished just days before her 14th birthday. At the time, Tiara said she hadn’t slept or eaten in days, feeling physically overwhelmed by stress. Volunteers from across Ohio joined the search, many saying they couldn’t stand by and do nothing—imagining how they would feel if it were their own child.
Now, with the discovery of Keimani’s body and charges filed against her father, the investigation remains active. “Until we’re done doing the whole investigation I can’t tell you how many people are involved,” Lt. Dan Gerken of Toledo Police said.
