• Meet Our Team
  • Advertise on SCDN
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, September 2
Scioto County Daily News
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe For $1/week
  • Public Safety
    Marquise A Poore

    Manhunt Madness: Portsmouth Police Track Down Wanted Suspects 

    dollar general 2

    Man at Dollar General Claims Boss Wants to Kill Him  

    Trash, Tears & Trouble: Portsmouth’s Weekend of Homeless Encounters 

    Pike County

    Woman Dies, Child Injured in Wreck

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 09/01/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    🚨 Michigan Avenue Family Crisis Highlights Ongoing Struggles to Protect Children 

    West Portsmouth Shooting

    Gunfire Panic at Trailer Park: Deputies Swarm Shots Fired Call 

    🏈 Locker Room Bullying Turns Violent — Mom Demands Justice  

    Police Officer Killed After Golf Cart Hit by Young Driver 

    Portsmouth

    Who Stole the Democrats’ Seat? Exclusive NEW Details on Portsmouth’s Missing Bench 

    Gun Scare at Mound Park: Call Leads Police on Evening Hunt 

    SCDN File Photo

    From Classroom to Courtroom? Portsmouth Parents Call Police Over School Clashes 

    DUI Driver Arrested After Wreck at Elementary School

    🚨 From Crash Site to Cell Block: Woman Busted for OVI in Portsmouth 

    Fired Trucker Takes Company Rig on Wild Ride Across State Lines  

    Dog on chain outside

    🐾 Price of a Pup Tag Set to Climb — Scioto County to Raise Dog License Fees Amid Worsening Shelter Crisis 

    Family & First Responders Save the Day in Wheelersburg Scare  

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 08/28/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Timmy’s Terror: Loose Pit Bull Sparks Dogfight, Death Threats, and Arrest 

    Police Activity

    Midnight Round-Up: Wanted Locals Learn the Hard Way

    Joseph Coby Portsmouth SWAT

    🚨 SWAT Roll-Out Over Missed Court Date: When Skipping Court Goes Too Far 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis

    Bryan Davis Arraignment Set, New Judge Assigned 

    Bryan Davis

    Why Commissioner Davis Staying in Office Raises Big Problems 

    Scottie Powell

    Powell Calls on Commissioner Davis to Resign 

    Scioto County Bryan Davis Scandal

    🗓 Timeline of a Scandal: How Scioto County’s Economic Development Crisis Unfolded 

    Bryan Davis

    Commissioner Bryan Davis and Wife Indicted in Scioto Scandal 

    Joey Sandlin

    Joey Sandlin Announces Inauguration Ceremony  

    Erie Canal Lock 50

    After Nearly a Decade of Talk, Scioto County Moves Closer to Restoring Historic Lock 50 

    Portsmouth City Council 2023

    Portsmouth City Council Considers More Cash for Lawsuit Defense 

    West Virginia SNAP

    🚨No More Free Pop? West Virginia Bans Soda from SNAP—Should Ohio Be Next?🚨 

    We Don’t Do Roads!: Scioto Commissioners Clarify Who’s Really in Charge of Road Repairs 

    “I’m Not Here to Replace Cathy”: New Commissioner Merit Smith Says He’ll Lead with Life Experience 

    Merit Smith

    Merit Smith Chosen to Fill Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    Scottie Powell

    “Run on Vision, Not Attacks”: Powell Offers Advice to Candidates Vying for Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    🌿 Bamboo Gets Fast-Tracked at City Hall — But the Homeless Crisis? Still Stuck in Neutral 

    Who Will Carry Cathy’s Torch? GOP to Choose Coleman’s Replacement July 29 

    Cathy Coleman

    Commissioners Back Senior Housing Project Championed by Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    “Bad and Quirky” Lucasville House Targeted for Demolition as County Cracks Down on Blighted Properties 

    ‘A Great Addition to Heaven’: Commissioners Honor Cathy Coleman, Reflect on Her Legacy and Who Might Carry It Forward 

    Cathy Coleman

    Scioto County Mourns Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    🚨TRIAL TWIST! Horton Corruption Case on Ice—For Now 

  • Feel Good
    A man sitting in a vehicle is handing over an ID card to a female police officer standing by his window.

    Tips for Staying Calm During Police Encounters

    Cyn Mackley

    Cyn Mackley Channels Haunted Appalachia

    A group of friends stand around a table, smiling, laughing, and drinking. There are plates of food on the table.

    Creative Ways To Host Outdoor Events This Summer

    A family of two parents and a young boy and girl are playing laser tag with vests and laser blasters in an arena.

    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

    Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup 

    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

    Three girls in quinceañera dresses stand beside one another. The one in middle has a gold dress while the other two wear pink.

    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

    An angler standing at the edge of a lake just after sunset with three fishing rods resting on the ground next to him.

    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

    good cops

    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

    good cops

    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

    A group of people stands outside with their arms in the air. They hold their hands together, making a pyramid shape.

    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

    good cops

    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

    A bearded man is sitting on the floor and comforting his dog in a wheelchair. The dog has his ears pinned back.

    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

    U.S. housing market

    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

  • Obituaries
    Janet Forbes

    Janet Forbes, 88 of South Shore

    Robert David Dean

    Robert David Dean, 75 of Piketon

    John Kenneth Kellerman, Jr

    John Kenneth Kellerman, Jr., 67 of Portsmouth

    Blenda Sue Forester Fitch

    Blenda Sue Forester Fitch, 76 of Waverly

    Barbara Williams

    Charlotte Pollitt, 79, of Piketon

    Ms. Shannon Renee Wyatt

    Ms. Shannon Renee Wyatt, 46 of Charleston

    James Collins

    James Collins 82 0f Portsmouth

    Rick L. Newsome 57 of Wheelersburg

    Anthony Carl White

    Anthony Carl White, 67 of Stout

    Samantha Kay Carver-Lattimore

    Samantha Kay Carver-Lattimore 42 of Portsmouth,

     Mildred Jean Sullivan

     Mildred Jean Sullivan, 81 of Portsmouth

    William McGinnis

    Jonathon Robert Chanti, 69 of Gallipolis

    Harold Richard Smith, Jr. , 45, of Waverly

    Barbara Williams

    Betty Jane Bowman, 83 of Portsmouth

    Kay Kelly

     Kay Kelly, 73 of Portsmouth

      Jeffrey Paul Steele

      Jeffrey Paul Steele, 49 of Portsmouth

    Zackery Hatfield

    Zackery Hatfield, 42 of Lexington

    Anthony Wayne

    Anthony Wayne Payne, 48 of Portsmouth

    James M. Lewis

    James M. Lewis, of Stout

    Barbara Williams

    Laura Frances Benner, 89 of Lucasville

  • More News
    • All News
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Education
    • Economy
    • Food & Drinks
    • Local Business
    • National
    • Opinion
    • Regional
    • Strange But True
    • Trending
No Result
View All Result
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Third Southern Ohio Child Dies Under CPS Care – SVU Investigates

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
4 years ago
in Public Safety
Third Southern Ohio Child Dies Under CPS Care
ShareTweetEmail

Another child has died while under Scioto County CPS care, this time an 18-month-old girl. Now the mother of the little girl has been arrested and charged with child endangerment.

This is the third child to die while under CPS supervision in the past 3 years. Baby Dylan Groves died in 2019 and five-year-old Annabel Green was killed in July of 2020. In September of 2017, Margarita White was called an “Animal” by the judge. She was sentenced to life for the death of young Tyler “TJ” Caudill.

Please Support This Local Business

According to Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer and Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman, Scioto County’s newly formed Special Victims Unit is leading the investigation into the child’s death. 

RELATED POSTS

Manhunt Madness: Portsmouth Police Track Down Wanted Suspects 

5 Star Food on a 1 Star Budget: Unique Potato Recipes

Woman Dies, Child Injured in Wreck

The investigation began on January 6, when law enforcement learned an 18-month-old girl was brought to Southern Ohio Medical Center and later pronounced dead. Her body was sent to Montgomery County for an autopsy. 

Page 1 of 5

Events of the Tragic Day

The little girl was in the custody of Scioto County Children’s Services and had been placed in kinship care. However, the biological mother was permitted overnight visits with the toddler. Sources said the child was returned to the kinship caregiver from a visit with the mother in bad shape. According to the source, the mother said the baby was sleeping and took her directly to bed when dropping her off. The kinship caregiver checked on the sleeping baby and realized something was very wrong. They immediately rushed the baby to the hospital but it was too late. 

Portsmouth Police Detective Chuck Crapyou and Scioto County Sheriff Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel responded to the hospital. Both the Portsmouth Police Department and the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office are members of a newly formed Special Victims Unit that Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman spearheaded in 2021. 

Page 2 of 5

Prior Police Contact on Record

Police reports show that concerned relatives of the baby and its siblings called police to report possible child endangerment over the summer. However, police found nothing suspicious at the mother’s home at the time. 

According to reports, the concerned relatives were scolded about filing false police reports. They were warned that the mother (Kristiana Edwards) could even file stalking charges against the caller.

Page 3 of 5

The Jan. 6th Investigation

.Officers confiscated electronic devices belonging to the mother, Kristina Edwards, 36, of Charles Street, and Larry Weaver, Jr., 22, of Dexter Street. Officials then searched the homes of Edwards and Weaver.  

Detectives recovered 29 grams of Meth (Ice), 13 grams of Heroin/Fentanyl, marijuana, scales, a firearm, and $4,200 in cash. The controlled substances were forwarded to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations for testing. 

Police arrested Kristina Edwards for child endangerment, trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, and meth in the vicinity of a juvenile.  Larry L. Weaver was also arrested for child endangerment, trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, and meth in the vicinity of a juvenile. 

Portsmouth Municipal Court set their bond $300,000. Weaver is also being held on a probation holder out of Common Pleas Court, with no bond. 

Page 4 of 5

Problems at CPS

Scioto County Children’s Services became the target of a state investigation as the result of Baby Dylan’s death, with the state actually taking over the agency for some time. Little Annabell’s death came shortly after Jason Mantell took over as director of the agency. Two caseworkers involved with the Groves and Greene deaths were later indicted for child endangerment and tampering with evidence. 

Page 5 of 5

What Happens Next?

This is an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury after the autopsy has been completed. 

When a child dies, it is quite common for the manner of death to be listed as “undetermined” (assuming there is no evidence of physical trauma). A toxicology report takes several weeks to come back. If there are red flags on that report, the information will help tell the story to prosecutors.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel @ 740-351-1091.

Tags: ChildrenNewsletterScioto CountySouthern Ohio
Please Support This Local Business

TRENDING NOW

Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 08/22/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

August 22, 2025
body

Missing Person Call Erupts Into Threats, Taser Standoff, and Dead Body! 

August 23, 2025
Eric A Froe

🚨 Repeat Trespasser Back Behind Bars — But For How Long?

August 23, 2025
Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

14 New Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

August 21, 2025

💥🚬 Boom on the Block: Cigarette + Oxygen = Disaster in Portsmouth Home 

August 23, 2025

ABOUT US

We are a grassroots team of local journalists on a mission to give our community up-to-the-second news and events for Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Western West Virginia. We believe progress inspires change and we believe our reporting has become the front-lines of Portsmouth, Ohio's comeback.

CATEGORIES

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Casino
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • Food & Drink
  • Local Business
  • National
  • Obituaries
  • Ohio
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Public Safety
  • Regional
  • Strange But True
  • Video

AREAS SERVED

  • Portsmouth
  • Wheelersburg
  • Minford
  • Waverly
  • Friendship
  • Ironton
  • West Union
  • Piketon
  • Coal Grove
  • South Point
  • Vanceburg
  • Grayson
  • South Shore
  • Greenup
  • Raceland
  • Ashland

SITE SEARCH

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.