8/29/18 – 4:24 A.M.

Four missing Lima kids are back home, while their mother and her boyfriend are behind bars. Lima police say Patience Wilson, Damara Croley, Benjamin Croley and Damien Wilson were found safe yesterday in Kenton, Ohio. An endangered child advisory was issued after their non-custodial mother attempted to take the children to Florida. Charges are pending against Marianne Merritt and Charles Perkins.

8/28/18 – 5:12 A.M.
UPDATE – 11:08 A.M. – Includes information from the August 7 council meeting minutes.

There was some confusion among Findlay officials about the demolition of two dilapidated buildings. Crews tore down the buildings at 428 West Main Cross Street Monday. The outbuildings were part of a property the city once thought about using for a health department.

Councilwoman Holly Frische included the Courier in an email chain about the demolition. In it, she said she wasn’t aware that the city approved the demolition. Minutes from the August 7 council meeting record a communication from Mayor Lydia Mihalik saying plans for the property included demolishing the two buildings. She said demolition would happen before the end of the summer.

Auditor Jim Staschiak said he was, “flabbergasted to see buildings coming down just days before the council was set to go look at them.” At least one council person didn’t seem to mind the move. In the email chain Councilman John Harrington said, “Buildings discussed are junk and need to go.”

City Council will tour the remaining buildings Thursday afternoon.

MORE: The Courier

8/28/18 – 8:15 A.M.

Police in Lima are asking for your help in finding a missing family from the city. Officers believe Marianne Merritt and her boyfriend, Charles Perkins, took Marianne’s four children. She does not have custodial rights to the kids. Investigators think they might be on their way to Florida in a dark blue Chrysler Voyager with a white passenger door. The license plate number is FMQ3175.

A post on the department’s Facebook page says Perkins is abusive toward the children. They believe he is armed and dangerous.

Descriptions:

Marianne Merritt (mother). White Female 01/16/1978. 5’05” / 210 pounds red hair green eyes.