Ohio former teacher charged after missing teen found at his home

Jobe Binkley, a 48-year-old former teacher in Springfield, Ohio, has been charged with one count of interference with custody following the discovery of a missing teenager at his residence. The girl had been missing for 263 days after fleeing the Huckleberry House, a transitional living center in Columbus, on December 2, 2025.

Authorities allege that Binkley knowingly harbored the juvenile despite being aware of her status as a missing person. According to court records, law enforcement had previously visited the residence on two occasions to search for the girl, but Binkley allegedly obstructed those efforts by denying her presence and refusing entry to his home.

The search concluded on August 21 when an officer acting with the U.S. Marshals Service visited the property. During this visit, Binkley reportedly confirmed the teenager was inside and called for her to come out. Binkley has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree misdemeanor and was released on bond. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September 30.