UPDATE — Oct. 30, 2026, 10:35 a.m.: The Athens County Sheriff’s Office says deputies, assisted by the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office, arrested Edinger and Dye on felony warrants on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and that both parents were charged with endangering children, a third-degree felony. The two were arrested without incident, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office says the couple’s daughter had been left in the care of William Alex McCallister on Feb. 21, 2026. “During this time, McCallister is alleged to have inflicted fatal injuries upon the child, resulting in her death on February 26, 2026,” Sheriff Rodney Smith said.
McCallister has not been taken into custody, and the sheriff’s office is asking the public for help finding him. “We are asking anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of William Alex McCallister to contact the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could be important in locating him,” Smith said. The sheriff’s office can be reached at (740) 566-4300.
The sheriff’s office said it is dedicating all available resources to McCallister’s apprehension and that no additional details will be released at this time to preserve the integrity of the investigation.
Press release — Athens County Prosecutor’s Office
ATHENS, Ohio — The parents of a three-month-old girl who died in February have each been charged with endangering children in connection with the circumstances surrounding her death, the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Justin Dye and Hannah Edinger are each charged in Athens County, according to the prosecutor’s office. Prosecutors allege that both parents permitted their infant daughter to go to a residence where she was subsequently involved in the circumstances that led to her death on Feb. 26, 2026.
The charges are connected to the murder indictment returned against William “Alex” McCallister, who remains on the run, according to the prosecutor’s office. In a separate announcement, the prosecutor’s office said a grand jury indicted McCallister on charges including two counts of felony murder and murder in the infant’s death, and that a warrant for his arrest is outstanding. Anyone with information about McCallister’s whereabouts can contact the Athens County Sheriff’s Office at (740) 593-6633.
“Every child deserves to be protected from circumstances that place their safety and well-being at risk,” Athens County Prosecutor Keller J. Blackburn said. “When the circumstances surrounding a child’s death raise concerns about the decisions and actions of those responsible for that child’s care, our office has a duty to carefully examine the evidence and determine whether criminal charges are warranted.”
The case was investigated by the Athens County Sheriff’s Office and the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office, according to the release.
Booking records show Dye and Edinger were each booked Oct. 28, 2026, on an endangering children charge. Both have a monetary bond in place, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Edinger has a status conference scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., and Dye has a status conference scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., according to the prosecutor’s office.
The prosecutor’s office did not name the infant. Charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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