The brutal murder of a 13-year-old Ohio girl has left a community in shock and mourning. Keimani Latigue was found dead in an abandoned, burnt-out house in Toledo on Monday, six days after her family reported her missing. The gruesome discovery revealed that the teenager had been raped and mutilated, her hands severed and her head nearly decapitated.
The Columbus Police Department has described the case as one of the most horrific they’ve ever encountered. Lt. Brian Steel expressed his outrage, labeling the perpetrator as an “absolute animal.” The victim, who was just days shy of her 14th birthday, was found on the second floor of the vacant home. An autopsy confirmed that she died from multiple incised wounds to the neck.
In a shocking twist, the girl’s father, Darnell Jones, was arrested in connection with her murder. Jones had previously appeared on local television to raise awareness about his daughter’s disappearance. He claimed that he last saw Keimani on the night of March 16, after she called him, expressing fear of being home alone.
Keimani lived with her grandmother, Dorothy Latigue, who was not at home during the alleged incident. The teenager’s mother, Tiara Kasten, last saw her daughter on March 15, when Jones brought Keimani to her home. Kasten described her daughter as a homebody who enjoyed school, playing basketball, and video games.
Upon returning home, Dorothy Latigue found the house in disarray, with Keimani’s undergarments and pajamas scattered around the living and dining rooms. The stove was left on, and Keimani’s keys and glasses, which she needed to see, were still in the house.
Jones was arrested after giving inconsistent statements to the police about his daughter’s whereabouts. When Keimani’s body was discovered, Jones, who had fled, was additionally charged with murder and felonious assault. The motive behind the horrific crime remains unknown.
Jones was apprehended in Columbus, approximately two hours south of Toledo, during a SWAT team operation. He was shot during the arrest after allegedly brandishing a gun at officers. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for surgery, and a vehicle believed to be linked to the case was seized.
The tragic incident has left the Toledo community reeling. Keimani was a well-regarded student, due to receive a kindness award and previously recognized on her elementary school’s honor roll. A spokesperson for Toledo Public Schools expressed the collective grief, stating that the students and staff at Spring Elementary were deeply saddened by the loss of their friend and classmate.