Former Ohio Teacher Charged After Missing Teen Found at His Home 263 Days Later

<p>Jobe Binkley, a 48-year-old former teacher from Springfield, Ohio, has been charged with one count of interference with custody, a first-degree misdemeanor. Authorities allege that he knowingly allowed a missing underage girl to stay at his home, despite being aware that she had been reported missing.</p><p>The girl had been missing for 263 days after running away from a youth shelter in Columbus on December 2, 2025, according to reports from WSYX and The New York Post.</p><p>Binkley was identified as the girl's former high school science teacher. The criminal complaint states that Binkley “did knowingly allow the child victim to stay in his home while having knowledge of the victim being an active missing juvenile.”</p><p>A probable cause affidavit indicates that on August 21, an officer from the U.S. Marshal's Office visited Binkley's home after it was identified as the girl's last known location. Binkley reportedly informed the officer that the teen was inside the residence and called for her to come outside.</p><p>Investigators noted that officers had previously visited Binkley's home on two occasions while searching for the missing girl. During those visits, Binkley allegedly refused to allow officers inside and stated that the juvenile was not present.</p><p>According to The New York Post, Binkley was placed on administrative leave from Springfield City Schools in November 2024 and again in January 2025 before being fired the following month.</p><p>Chelsi Warner, the mother of the victim's half-sister, alleged that Binkley began grooming the teen after they met at school, stating, “She’s had a troubled history with her mother and this groomer took advantage of a girl looking for a parental figure.”</p><p>Court records show that Binkley has pleaded not guilty to the charge, and a pretrial hearing is scheduled for September 30. The Springfield Police Department and Springfield City Schools have not yet commented on the matter.</p>