An Ohio teenager who had been missing for 263 days has been found alive inside the home of a former teacher — a discovery that has left her family furious and raised troubling allegations about the relationship between the girl and the disgraced educator.
The 17-year-old disappeared from the Huckleberry House crisis shelter in Columbus on December 2, 2025. For months, her family repeatedly told police they believed she was staying at the home of Jobe Binkley, a 48-year-old former science teacher with the Springfield City School District.
On August 21, a US Marshals special task force finally entered Binkley’s home and found the missing girl inside.
Her family says they had been pointing investigators toward the house for much of the nine-month disappearance.
Former Springfield City School District teacher Jobe Binkley was arrested after officials found a missing 17-year-old girl in his home.
Family Says Teen Was Groomed
Chelsi Warner, the mother of the missing girl’s half-sister, told The Post that Binkley first met the teenager at school about two years ago and allegedly began grooming her.
Warner, who had previously housed the girl, said the teenager had already run away to Binkley’s home the previous year.
“She’s had a troubled history with her mother and this groomer took advantage of a girl looking for a parental figure,” Warner said.
The teen was staying at a shelter in Columbus, Ohio, when she ran away to Binkley’s home, officials said. Family handout
She also expressed concern that the teenager had become so influenced by Binkley that she could no longer recognize what had happened to her.
“It’s absolutely disgusting,” Warner said, adding that she believed the girl had been “groomed and brainwashed” by the former teacher.
Binkley was arrested after the teenager was found and charged with one count of interference with custody, a first-degree misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty and was subsequently released on bond.
The prosecutor reportedly said a more serious charge could not be brought without the teenager’s cooperation.
Family Says Police Were Given Photos
Warner said her family had repeatedly raised concerns about Binkley during the investigation and had even provided Springfield police with photographs that they believed showed the missing girl inside his home.
“I’m very upset with this situation,” she said.
Binkley was put on administrative leave in November 2025 following allegations of inappropriate behavior with students, which the district claims were unsubstantiated. Freedom GMC
According to Warner, the family had photographs of the teenager inside the house holding guns. She also said they were aware of allegations involving other students but were repeatedly told investigators did not yet have enough evidence to act.
Binkley had previously refused police entry to his home twice while authorities were investigating the teenager’s disappearance. The eventual search by the US Marshals task force on August 21 led to the discovery of the girl.
The Springfield Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Former Teacher Had Faced Previous Allegations
Binkley had already been under scrutiny before the teenager was found.
He was placed on administrative leave in November 2024 and again in January 2025. The school district terminated him the following month for violating its policy concerning the use of technology.
Binkley was later placed on administrative leave again in November 2025 amid allegations of inappropriate behavior involving students. The district has said those previous allegations were unsubstantiated.
Warner, however, accused the school district of attempting to avoid responsibility and dismiss concerns surrounding Binkley, claiming students had video evidence of inappropriate behavior.
Springfield City Schools told ABC 6 that it had not been made aware of any allegations involving Binkley and the runaway teenager. The district also maintained that previous allegations against the former teacher had been unsubstantiated.
The teenager had reportedly disappeared once before in November, only to be found several days later staying with Binkley, according to posts shared by family and friends.
Now that she has been located after more than eight months missing, her family is left demanding answers about how she ended up in the former teacher’s home — and why their warnings did not lead investigators there sooner.
