Ohio authorities have announced the official cause of death for a 13-year-old girl found dead in a burned building.
Ohio authorities have announced the official cause of death for a 13-year-old girl found dead in a burned building.
Kei’Mani Latigue was reported missing on March 18, days after she was last seen with her father. According to a statement from the Toledo Police Department, an arrest warrant was issued on March 23 for her father, Darnell Jones.
Lucas County Children Services denied finding evidence to remove Kei'Mani Latigue from her home after receiving multiple reports dating back to 2023. LCCS gave Latigue’s grandmother instructions for "appropriate discipline" and referred the family to supports, including OhioRISE, a “care program for youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs."
Now, Lucas County Coroner’s Office has announced the cause of Kei’Mani's death. The autopsy revealed that she died by homicide from “multiple incised wounds of the neck.” Brian Steel, a lieutenant with the Columbus Police Department, states that the child was found in “a horrific condition.” Kei’Mani Latigue had allegedly been “nearly decapitated, sexually assaulted and her hands were cut off.”
Arrest warrants show that the young girl’s father provided “inconsistent statements” to police about his activity with his daughter as well as his whereabouts. When Columbus police located him on March 25, Jones allegedly shot at an officer with a gun from inside his sweatshirt.
The officer was not injured and Jones remained in stable condition after sustaining gunshot wounds.
At a recent community vigil, nearly 100 people came together at the abandoned building where Kei’Mani’s body was found.
“It’s a deep wound for the whole community,” attendee Sonya Rivera told reporters. “It doesn’t matter if you’re from Waterville or Perrysburg, our community and our kids matter.”
Kei'Mani's classmate, 13-year-old Kaylenna Bullis also attended the vigil.
“She was really nice, no matter what,” Kaylenna said, “Even if people kept messing with her, picking with her, she’ll always be nice.”
Authors: Alexis Kabat and Andy Goldwasser
