A strange call from Shawnee State Forest sent deputies rushing to check on a woman who appeared to be in distress along a remote stretch of Forest Road 4.
A passerby reported a gray Jeep Cherokee parked in the roadway with the driver’s door left open and an elderly woman frantically running up and down the road, shouting that she was looking for her grandson. No child was seen in the area.
When deputies arrived, they quickly determined the situation was not what it first seemed. The woman appeared to be experiencing mental health or substance abuse issues, so an ambulance was called. Medics transported her to the hospital for treatment while deputies secured her vehicle.
Family members later confirmed there was no missing child. In fact, the woman’s grandson doesn’t even live in Ohio. Relatives expressed concern that she may have relapsed into drug use.
Deputies say calls like these highlight how easily initial reports can mislead. What sounds like a potential child abduction can turn out to be a medical or mental health crisis. First responders stress the importance of checking every detail while staying flexible enough to adapt as the facts unfold.
