Police in Franklin, Ohio, arrested a 25-year-old mother after authorities discovered several young children alone inside an apartment early Saturday morning during a search prompted by an unusual emergency call. The incident began with an open 911 line that allowed dispatchers to hear children speaking in the background, leading officers to an apartment complex where they found three young children without adult supervision and initiated a search for a missing sibling and their mother.
The mother, identified as Kerri Steinmetz, now faces multiple criminal charges following the investigation. Authorities say the situation created confusion and concern for officers and neighbors as they attempted to determine the whereabouts of both the mother and a missing six-year-old child. The case has drawn attention because of the circumstances that led to the discovery of the unattended children and the multi-agency search that followed.
Open 911 Call Leads Police to Unattended Children
The incident unfolded around 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, when emergency dispatchers received an open 911 call originating from the Emerald Edge apartment complex located off East Second Street in Franklin. During the call, the dispatcher reportedly heard children talking in the background but was unable to communicate with an adult caller. Using call-triangulation technology, emergency personnel were able to narrow down the approximate location of the call.
Officers from the Franklin Division of Police were then dispatched to the apartment complex to investigate what appeared to be a potentially serious situation involving children inside a residence without supervision. Police captain Brian Pacifico said officers began checking multiple apartments in an effort to determine exactly where the call was coming from. After searching through the building and knocking on doors, officers eventually located the apartment connected to the emergency call.
Inside the residence, officers discovered three children — ages 7, 4, and 2 — alone in the apartment. According to authorities, there were no adults present at the time officers entered the home. The children were unharmed but were clearly unsupervised, which immediately raised concern among responding officers. Investigators began speaking with the children and nearby neighbors to determine who was responsible for the residence and where the parent or guardian might be.
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During those conversations, officers learned that four children were believed to live in the apartment along with a family dog. Because only three children were present, officers quickly realized that a fourth child — a six-year-old — was unaccounted for. At that point, what initially appeared to be a welfare check quickly escalated into a search for the missing child.
Search Expands for Missing Child and Mother
As officers attempted to piece together what had happened, neighbors provided information suggesting the missing child might have left the apartment while chasing the family dog, which they believed had gotten loose from the home. This possibility led officers to worry that the child might be outside in the early morning hours without supervision. Authorities began searching the surrounding area, concerned that the child might be wandering nearby or in danger.
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The search also included efforts to locate Kerri Steinmetz, who had not been present in the apartment when officers arrived. Additional law enforcement agencies and emergency personnel joined the effort to locate both the missing child and the mother. Officers canvassed the apartment complex and surrounding neighborhood while continuing to interview neighbors and gather details about the family’s situation.
During the investigation, police learned that the earlier assumption about the dog escaping may have been incorrect. Officials later discovered that the dog was actually with the children’s grandmother in another city and had not been involved in the situation at the apartment. With that information clarified, investigators continued working to determine the whereabouts of the missing six-year-old. Eventually, authorities located the child in Middletown at the home of a babysitter.
Police confirmed that the child was safe and had not been injured. The discovery brought relief to officers who had been searching for the child and helped bring an end to the immediate concerns about the child’s safety. Despite the child being found safe, the investigation continued because of the circumstances surrounding the children who had been left alone in the apartment.
Arrest and Charges Filed Against Steinmetz
Shortly after officers confirmed the missing child’s location, Kerri Steinmetz returned to the apartment. According to police, she was taken into custody at the scene after speaking with officers about the situation. Authorities charged Steinmetz with three counts of child endangerment, each classified as a misdemeanor. In addition, she faces one count of inducing panic, a felony charge related to the emergency response triggered by the circumstances surrounding the missing child and the open 911 call.
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Police said the charges stem from leaving the three young children unattended inside the apartment during the early morning hours while the six-year-old was away from the residence. Kerri Steinmetz was transported to the Warren County Jail following her arrest. Jail records indicate that her bond was set at $6,250 covering all four charges. Officials confirmed that Steinmetz was scheduled to appear in court on March 9, where the charges against her would be formally addressed as the legal process moves forward.
The children involved in the incident were reported to be physically unharmed, though authorities did not release additional details about their custody or care following the arrest. Investigators also did not specify how long the children had been alone before the 911 call occurred. The case highlights how emergency dispatch systems can sometimes detect distress situations even when a caller does not directly communicate with operators.
In this instance, the open line and the sound of children speaking alerted dispatchers that something might be wrong, prompting the response that ultimately led officers to the apartment. Police officials noted that the quick response by dispatchers and officers helped ensure the children were located safely and that the missing child was found without injury.
As the case proceeds through the court system, authorities have indicated that further details may emerge regarding the circumstances that led to the children being left alone and the six-year-old being at a babysitter’s home in another city.