An Ohio teenager missing for 263 days was found alive at the home of a disgraced former teacher, according to reports, as relatives allege the 48-year-old man groomed the vulnerable girl.
The 17-year-old disappeared from the Huckleberry House crisis shelter in Columbus on Dec. 2, 2025. Her family repeatedly urged police to investigate the home of Jobe Binkley, a former Springfield City School District science teacher.
Chelsi Warner, the mother of the teen’s half-sister, told The Post that Binkley began grooming the girl after meeting her at school about two years earlier. The teen had also previously run away to Binkley’s house last year, Warner said.
“She’s had a troubled history with her mother and this groomer took advantage of a girl looking for a parental figure,” said Warner, who has cared for the teen in the past.
“It’s absolutely disgusting… and she’s so groomed and brainwashed by that man that she doesn’t see what he’s done to her,” Warner added.
Binkley was arrested on one count of interference with custody, a first-degree misdemeanor, before being released on bond.
He pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said a more serious charge was not possible without the teenager’s cooperation.
Binkley, who had previously faced allegations of inappropriate conduct involving students, denied police access to his residence twice during the search for the missing teen.
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A U.S. Marshals special task force ultimately entered the home on Aug. 21 and found the girl alive inside, ABC 6 reported.
Warner said the outcome was especially frustrating because relatives had spent nine months telling authorities the teen was likely at Binkley’s home. She said the family had even supplied the Springfield Police Department with photographs showing the girl inside the residence.
“I’m very upset with this situation,” she said. “We had photos of her in the house holding guns, and we know about the allegations from other students against this man, but we were always told there’s not enough evidence yet.”
The Springfield Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment.
The teen had previously gone missing last November, and she was reportedly found a few days later staying with Binkley, according to posts from family and friends.
Binkley was first put on administrative leave in November 2024 and then again in January 2025, with the school canning him the following month for violating the district’s policy regarding the use of technology.
Warner accused the school of trying to dodge responsibility and sweep the issues with Binkley away despite students having video evidence of his inappropriate behavior.
Springfield City Schools, who had said previous allegations against Binkley were unsubstantiated, told ABC 6 it was never made aware of any allegations between the former science teacher and the runaway victim.