Local woman calls for help about missing one year old. The alarms might be false but the consequences are not!

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On February 15, 2026, officers with the Chillicothe Police Department responded to and investigated a reported juvenile welfare concern within the City of Chillicothe. The report indicated that a one-year-old child may have been left at an unknown residence and could be in danger.

Officers initiated an investigation and made contact with the reporting party, later identified as Mariah Maxwell, age 26. During the course of the investigation, officers followed up on multiple addresses, contacted involved individuals, and coordinated with out-of-area law enforcement agencies in an effort to verify the child’s location and ensure the child’s safety.

Through continued investigation, officers determined that the information provided was inaccurate. Law enforcement later confirmed that the child was not in Chillicothe and was, in fact, located in Indiana in the care of a family member and safe.

Based on the findings of the investigation, officers determined that false information had been provided during the initial report and subsequent contacts.

As a result, Mariah Maxwell, 26, was arrested and charged with:
• Making False Alarms (ORC 2917.32)
• Obstructing Official Business (ORC 2921.31)

Maxwell was transported to the Ross County Jail and is scheduled to appear in Chillicothe Municipal Court.

False reports require the diversion of significant law enforcement resources and may delay response to legitimate emergencies. The Chillicothe Police Department encourages members of the community to provide accurate and truthful information when contacting law enforcement.

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