A recent notice from Portsmouth Police has signaled what appears to be the final chapter in the long and disturbing saga of former attorney Michael Mearan. Authorities are calling on Mearan’s former clients to retrieve their legal records before they are destroyed—records that were once key evidence in a case that promised justice for victims but ended without resolution.
A Public Call for Records
The Portsmouth Police Department announced that attorney-client files belonging to Mearan’s former clients are available for pickup until April 22, 2025. After that, the records may be destroyed.
“These files were originally seized and held as part of the criminal investigation into Mearan,” the department stated. “Due to his death, these files are now available to be returned to the clients.”
The notice has raised questions about whether law enforcement has officially closed the investigation into the disgraced attorney, who was accused of running a 15-year human trafficking ring in southern Ohio.
A Case That Never Saw Trial
Mearan’s death in November 2021 marked a stunning and frustrating conclusion to a case years in the making. Investigators had built a strong case against him, alleging that he preyed on vulnerable women in desperate need of legal help, coercing them into prostitution. He was set to stand trial in January 2022, facing a staggering list of charges, including:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity
- Three counts of trafficking in persons
- Five counts of compelling prostitution
- Nine counts of promoting prostitution
Authorities arrested Mearan in March 2020 following a raid on his home office.
That same month, he was placed on house arrest after prosecutors accused him of continuing to practice law despite a court order barring him from doing so. His trial would never come.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who spearheaded the prosecution, acknowledged the frustration of Mearan’s victims upon his passing. “At least he died publicly charged for his crimes, and his victims knew the dignity of being heard and believed. They have survived him.”
Suspicion Surrounds His Death
Mearan’s death, just months before he was due to face a jury, fueled speculation and conspiracy theories reminiscent of Jeffrey Epstein’s case. Many have questioned whether justice was truly served. Official records cite a heart attack, kidney failure, and diabetes as contributing factors to his death, with no autopsy performed before he was cremated.
Human Trafficking Still a Crisis in Southern Ohio
While Mearan’s case may be over, sex trafficking remains a persistent issue in Scioto County and beyond. Southern Ohio has long been a hotspot for human trafficking, with drug addiction and poverty creating a breeding ground for exploitation. Law enforcement agencies continue to battle these crimes, and advocacy groups like Appalachian Voices Unite and the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Initiative work tirelessly to support survivors.
Justice Denied?
Back in 2021, Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman made it clear that, in his view, Mearan’s death left justice undone. “Justice takes place when all parties in a case have their day in court, their voices heard, and a jury renders a just verdict. With Mr. Mearan’s passing, this will not occur for any and all parties involved.”
For the women who accused Mearan of unspeakable abuse, his death robbed them of their chance to confront him in court. And now, with the destruction of legal records looming, any remaining threads of accountability may be lost forever.
