Father threatens to kill daughter during dramatic standoff with police

In eastern Ohio, on November 11, 2024, a 7-year-old girl named Oaklynn Alexander was kidnapped by her non-custodial father, Charles Ryan Alexander. The abduction took place at her grandmother's home in Jefferson County, sparking an immediate police response and an Amber Alert, which led to a pursuit of Charles. The Medina County Sheriff's Office tracked him down, ultimately deflating his tires during a tense standoff in a parking lot, where he was armed and threatening to harm himself and his daughter. Chilling 911 audio from the scene captured Oaklynn's desperate pleas for her father not to kill her. She cried out, saying, 'I don’t want to go to heaven today,' highlighting the traumatic circumstances she faced while her father shouted threats. Police worked to de-escalate the situation through the dispatcher, who repeatedly encouraged Charles to communicate with his daughter to prevent her from becoming scared. Despite this effort, the standoff ended tragically when law enforcement shot and killed Charles Ryan Alexander, ensuring the safety of Oaklynn, who was unharmed and later returned to her family. In the aftermath of the incident, a GoFundMe campaign was established to support Oaklynn and cover potential mental health expenses, raising nearly $8,000 for her needs as her mother took time off work to care for her.