COLUMBUS, Ohio —In recognition of National Missing Children’s Day, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine released the 2015 Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse Report, which documents that 18,688 children were reported missing in Ohio in 2015. Authorities reported that 97 percent of those children were recovered safely.
A full copy of the report can be found on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.
“Protecting Ohio’s families and children is the mission that drives everything we do in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and all of us have a role to play in making sure missing kids return home safely,” said Attorney General DeWine. “The safe recovery of a missing child requires coordination and a quick response among agencies as well as critical help and input from the public.”
Children reported missing were in these age categories:
- 0 to 5 years old – 156
- 6 to 12 years old – 1,097
- 13 to 17 years old – 17,435
The clearinghouse also documented 17 attempted child abductions involving 13 girls and eight boys. The suspects were driving vehicles in 98 percent of the situations, and 36 percent of the incidents occurred while the children were walking to or from school.
There were 12 AMBER Alerts and 17 Endangered Missing Child Alerts issued in 2015. All of these children were recovered safely.
There are currently more than 700 children listed as missing in Ohio.
Attorney General DeWine also announced the winners of this year’s National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest. Each year, fifth graders across the state are eligible to submit a poster to the Attorney General’s Office that raises awareness about child safety. The winners were recognized as part of the Attorney General’s Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance. This year’s winners are:
First Place: Keira Burns, St. Anthony Elementary School, Dayton
Second Place: Katherine Fleming, Home-school, Grove City
Riley Wagner, Zahn’s Corner Middle School, Piketon
