Jessica and Daniel Groves, of
Otway, Ohio, before January 10, 2019, had one child, Daniel Groves Junior. Dylan James Groves was born on January 10, 2019. The Groves arrived at the
Southern Ohio Medical Center in
Portsmouth, Ohio, early that morning. Jessica was
dilated 9½ out of 10 centimeters. Hospital staff noticed Jessica was under the influence but she refused to answer their questions. Staff in the maternity ward administered no pain medications to Jessica because she was under the influence as well as there were no records of
prenatal care for Dylan. He was delivered within 30 minutes, and was promptly placed on oxygen, as he was
born prematurely. Neither Daniel nor Jessica accompanied him there. Dylan and Jessica both tested positive for drugs, and Dylan began exhibiting symptoms of
neonatal withdrawal syndrome 12 hours after his birth. His
umbilical cord was tested shortly before his birth, and tested positive for various drugs including
methamphetamine,
amphetamine,
fentanyl, and
morphine, among other drugs. Scioto County Children's Services intended to award custody of Dylan to his father, Daniel, as they believed Daniel was employed with
Rural King, a farm supply store, and would be able to provide clean drug tests. They intended to release Dylan to Daniel under the pretenses Jessica would not live in the same home and had to attend drug treatment. The hospital would not agree to release Dylan to the Groves under those pretenses and, instead, Dylan was placed with a
foster mother, Andrea Tackett, on January 16. Dylan was still exhibiting symptoms of drug withdrawal, such as twitching and tremors, and wanted to be held at all times. Dylan remained with Tackett for ten days, before he was placed back into the custody of Daniel under the previously discussed pretenses. Jessica was assessed by a local drug treatment facility, where she received treatment for three weeks. Dylan regularly saw a
pediatrician for less than one month. The Groves eventually began avoiding contact with Children's Services, who tried reaching out to them between February 4 and February 25, including visiting their older son at his school. Children's Services made successful contact with them again on the 25th. After February 25, the Groves avoided contact with Children's Services. Caseworker Patricia Craft, made contact with the family at their home on March 28, which was the last documented sighting of Dylan alive. After that visit, the Groves would not make in-person contact with Children's Services again. Children's Services attempted to make in-person contact several times throughout the following months, to no avail. Children's Services eventually placed their older son, Daniel Junior, into their custody, placing him with an aunt and uncle. Children's Services filed a
missing person's report for Dylan on April 30, and continued to make unsuccessful attempts at contacting the family. Deputies from the Scioto County Sheriff's Office also attempted to make contact. On one occasion, on May 20, Captain John Murphy observed the Groves on a
four-wheeler near their home and attempted to stop them, but they took off into the woods. A
search warrant was secured for their home on June 10. Jessica Groves was promptly arrested and brought down to the Scioto County Sheriff's Office. Daniel was arrested after an hours-long standoff involving a robot. He was also transported to the sheriff's department. == Recovery of Dylan's body ==