A Portsmouth teenager listed as missing by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office says she’s not missing at all—just trying to escape what she describes as an abusive home and a system that initially ignored her cries for help.
Kinsley Estep, 17, contacted Scioto County Daily News directly in a plea to share her story. She claims she voluntarily left her Portsmouth home, where she lived with her adoptive mother, a juvenile probation officer and drug court coordinator. Kinsley alleges years of emotional, verbal, and financial abuse and says that despite numerous attempts to get help from local authorities, her situation was dismissed or ignored—until now.
After SCDN began contacting law enforcement and CPS, Kinsley says a detective from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office finally responded, telling her they were coordinating with Children’s Services. The department officially cancelled her missing child alert on Thursday morning after confirming she was safe and in communication.
“It took weeks for her to get back to me,” Kinsley said of the detective. “The only thing she said was that she was going to contact CPS and they would take down my missing person’s report.”
Kinsley, who graduated high school last year, turns 18 in late August and says she’s currently safe, supporting herself through a small phone case business and has saved over $3,000. She also says she’s open to turning herself in—but not if it means returning to what she calls an unsafe living environment.
“I was not getting fed at her house. I would have my friends DoorDash me food,” Kinsley said. “I had to pay for the WiFi to stay on.”
She also described deplorable living conditions, including clogged plumbing, unclean rooms, and emotional manipulation. She says her mother took most of the money she earned from a job she got to pay for basic necessities like food and hygiene products.
We reached out to Kinsley’s adoptive mother to get her side of this complex and emotional situation, but have not yet received a response.
SCDN confirmed public records of her adoptive mother’s past criminal charges, most of which are more than a decade old and include dismissed domestic violence charges, drug-related offenses, and disorderly conduct. Despite these records, she continues to hold a position in the local court system.
Kinsley’s story is a reminder that some missing person cases aren’t always about running away—but running toward safety. Her past includes time in the foster care system, which she entered after a tragedy involving her biological mother and sister. She says she was adopted just last year and has struggled to find a stable, safe environment ever since.
Why This Matters:
Kinsley’s case highlights the urgent need for stability and safety in the lives of vulnerable youth—and how systems meant to protect them don’t always act swiftly or decisively.
If you suspect a child is in crisis, don’t stay silent. Call Scioto County Children Services at 740-456-4164, or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-CHILD). If a young person confides in you, listen, support, and help connect them with trusted adults and professionals.
We’ll continue to follow Kinsley’s situation and work to present all perspectives. This is a developing story that calls attention to the fragile balance between child protection, legal influence, and accountability.
