Ohio
Ohio's Missing Persons Working Group aims to bring home loved ones who vanished
CLEVELAND — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine created a new group to look at how cases of missing persons are investigated and offer recommendations for improvement.
Members of the new Missing Persons Working Group will review and study Ohio’s resources and response to adult and juvenile missing persons cases, including database usage, law enforcement staffing and training, and investigation best practices.
“Every life is valuable, which is why it is important to take these cases seriously,” said DeWine.
The group is already starting to develop recommendations to improve how law enforcement searches for missing Ohioans.
“I’ve asked this group to examine different components of missing persons investigations to determine if the process can be improved. The ultimate goal here is to bring more missing people home safely,” DeWine said when the working group was formed in January.
There isn’t a day that goes by that Bill Hodge doesn’t think about his brother Michael.
“I don’t want anyone to ever forget him,” Hodge said.
Michael Hodge was last seen in Cleveland riding his bike on West 172nd Street near Puritas Avenue on March 6, 2004.
“We haven’t had any answers in over 21 years,” Hodge said.
The Missing Persons Working Group comprises law enforcement, families and advocates for Ohioans who have vanished.
“I went down there and spoke at their first meeting to kind of give the family perspective,” said Linda Summers.
Summers’s step-granddaughter, Ashley Summers, disappeared from Cleveland in July 2007.
“No answers, no closure, it’s just a mystery,” Summers said.
DeWine is hoping this group will come up with recommendations that will get missing people home faster and safer.
“Things need to be done on a missing persons case immediately,” said U.S. Deputy Marshal Vincent Piccoli.
Piccoli and U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott are among those in the working group.
“There are certain things on the state level now resource-wise wise that are available that people weren’t aware of, certain departments and agencies,” said Piccoli. “So, just like the basic knowledge that has come from that this working group has been huge,” he said.
The Missing Persons Working Group’s final meeting is next week, and recommendations are expected at the end of April.
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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — First News is working to learn more information after officers served a search warrant Friday afternoon for a building at the corner of Market Street and Pasadena Avenue
When we showed up to the scene, we found Animal Charity of Ohio had humane agents there.
We could also hear what sounded like roosters crowing, and eventually we saw humane agents bringing out several chickens and roosters in cages from the property. Authorities said they removed approximately 30 pairs of roosters and hens.
That brought us to a residence on Glenwood Avenue near the corner of Stadium Street.
So far, we aren’t hearing anything, but a number of officers and humane agents seemed to be knocking on the front door, and seemingly no one answered.
They then all moved behind the house, and one was an officer carrying a sledgehammer and a crowbar. So far we haven’t heard or seen any action.
First News will update this story as we learn more.
Nick Rich contributed to this report.
ROSSFORD, Ohio — Smoke from Canadian wildfires forced the cancellation of three community events Thursday, including a multi-day festival, a weekly farmers market and a summer concert series finale.
Organizers of the Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest, the Perrysburg Farmers Market and the Whitehouse Summer Concert Series each cited hazardous air quality conditions as the reason for their decisions.
Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest canceled
Rossford city officials and the Rossford Convention & Visitors Bureau Board jointly decided Thursday to cancel the Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest, which was scheduled to run July 17-19.
The Visitors Bureau’s director Beth Genson said in a statement: “The decision to cancel the 2026 Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest was made jointly by City officials and the Rossford Convention & Visitors Bureau Board after careful consideration of the hazardous air quality conditions caused by smoke from the Canadian wildfires. The health and safety of our attendees, volunteers, vendors, performers and staff was our highest priority. We recognize how disappointing this is for our community and visitors, but we believe cancelling the event was the responsible decision under these circumstances.”
Perrysburg farmers market, Whitehouse concert also called off
The Perrysburg Chamber of Commerce canceled Thursday’s farmers market in historic downtown Perrysburg. The chamber’s director of tourism Sally Moore said: “The health and safety of our vendors, customers, volunteers, and staff is our top priority. Based on the current hazardous air quality conditions and the guidance we received, we believe cancellation is the safest course of action.”
In Whitehouse, the final performance of the summer concert series at Whitehouse Village Park was also canceled Thursday out of concern for the safety of concertgoers. A spokesman for the series said organizers are hoping to reschedule the final performance in August or September.
Health experts advise staying indoors
Dr. David Geisinger, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, said residents should limit time outdoors while smoke remains in the area.
“We all need to be extra careful, but the children especially, younger kids, anybody with asthma, chronic lung disease, COPD, bronchitis, they would need to be especially careful,” Geisinger said.
Geisinger added that with current air quality index levels, indoor activities are the safer option.
“With this level of air quality index and the smoke, it’s better to do activities that are inside,” he said.
Smoke from the Canadian wildfires was expected to continue affecting air quality into Friday.
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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – A Warren man indicted in June on charges he had inappropriate conduct with a teenager pleaded guilty Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Daniel Procopio, 29, pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony count of attempted illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance.
Howland police arrested Procopio following a report filed by the parent of a teenager who reported Procopio had inappropriate contact with the teen. The investigation by Howland police showed Procopio in February 2026 had asked a 16-year-old female to send nude photos of herself to him, according to Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman.
The crimes are alleged to have taken place in February and March.
Procopio will be sentenced at a later date.
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