• Meet Our Team
  • Advertise on SCDN
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, July 30
Scioto County Daily News
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe For $1/week
  • Public Safety
    Laura “Mikki” Elliott

    Desperate Search Underway for Missing Mom Who Vanished After Leaving Portsmouth Rehab

    Domestic Meltdown: Woman Flees in Underwear with Toddler, Man Arrested After Chase

    “This Is My Yard!” — Woman Threatens Resident, Ends Up in Handcuffs

    TikTok Terror: 12-Year-Old Girl’s Disturbing Videos Trigger Police Response

    Sticky Fingers

    ‍♀️ MYSTERIOUS MISSY STRIKES AGAIN: Snack Bandit Lounges for 4 Hours, Then Makes Her Move🥩🧀 

    Tragic Discovery

    🚨 One Gone, One Saved: Overdose Calls Highlight Ongoing Drug Crisis in Portsmouth 

    🚨 Gun Panic at Farley Square! —Cops Called In 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/29/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    OSP Investigates Crash

    Tragedy Strikes Twice: Two Fatal Creek Crashes in a Single Day 

    OSP night 1

    💥Semi Rollover Dumps Hazardous River of Milk!💥 

    SCDN File Photo

    🚨 Caught in the Act: Armed Man Snaps After Catching Girlfriend in Bed with His Buddy — Ends in Arrest 🚔 

    Good Kids CPS

    Kids in Crisis: First Responders on the Front Lines of Portsmouth’s Youth Emergency 

    BAD BEHAVIOR

    Violence at Kelli Apartments: Man Accused of Attacking Woman and Grabbing Child 

    Recovery Housing Scioto County

    “We Can Shut Down a Bad Diner—But Not a Bad Rehab?”: Powell Pushes for Recovery Housing Reform 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/28/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Nightmare Roommate: Woman Wakes to Sexual Assault in Her Own Bed 

    Recovery Housing Scioto County

    💥 Brawl at Rehab: Man Left Bloody, One Jailed After Fight at McDermott Facility 

    sheriff cruiser 23

    OD Scare Outside Funeral Home: Deputies Step In, Urge Public to Call for Help

    Jennifer Walsh

    Portsmouth Mom Busted After Child Shows Up Alone at Hospice — Again! 

    What to do if you suspect child abuse

    BREAKING: Allegation of Child Sex Assault Reported in Portsmouth – Here’s What You Need to Know 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    Merit Smith

    Merit Smith Chosen to Fill Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    Scottie Powell

    “Run on Vision, Not Attacks”: Powell Offers Advice to Candidates Vying for Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    🌿 Bamboo Gets Fast-Tracked at City Hall — But the Homeless Crisis? Still Stuck in Neutral 

    Who Will Carry Cathy’s Torch? GOP to Choose Coleman’s Replacement July 29 

    Cathy Coleman

    Commissioners Back Senior Housing Project Championed by Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    “Bad and Quirky” Lucasville House Targeted for Demolition as County Cracks Down on Blighted Properties 

    ‘A Great Addition to Heaven’: Commissioners Honor Cathy Coleman, Reflect on Her Legacy and Who Might Carry It Forward 

    Cathy Coleman

    Scioto County Mourns Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    🚨TRIAL TWIST! Horton Corruption Case on Ice—For Now 

    Cathy Coleman

    Remembering Scioto County Commissioner Cathy Coleman

    somc 2

    🏥 Scioto County Approves Hospital Tax to Keep Medicaid Dollars Local 

    No Kings

    Scioto Dems Snort at “Well-Funded” No Kings Protest Claim

    Cathy Coleman

    Cathy Coleman Still Fighting: Family Shuts Down Hospice Rumors, Says Recovery Still Underway

    County May Tap Opioid Settlement Funds to Finish MARCS Tower Project 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘Small Steps, Big Faith’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Edges Closer to Recovery 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘Praise God!’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Remarkable Progress After Harrowing Weeks

    Cathy Coleman

    Cautious Hope and Harsh Realities: New Details Emerge on Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Condition 

    Scioto County Commissioners Cancel This Week’s Meeting 

    Robert Horton

    Sudden Twist: Horton Court Dates Scrapped Ahead of Trial 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘A Sign of Hope’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Small Improvements Amid Ongoing Critical Condition 

  • Feel Good
    A family of two parents and a young boy and girl are playing laser tag with vests and laser blasters in an arena.

    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

    Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup 

    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

    Three girls in quinceañera dresses stand beside one another. The one in middle has a gold dress while the other two wear pink.

    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

    An angler standing at the edge of a lake just after sunset with three fishing rods resting on the ground next to him.

    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

    good cops

    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

    good cops

    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

    A group of people stands outside with their arms in the air. They hold their hands together, making a pyramid shape.

    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

    good cops

    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

    A bearded man is sitting on the floor and comforting his dog in a wheelchair. The dog has his ears pinned back.

    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

    U.S. housing market

    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    A man approaching the bowling lane with a red bowling ball as his three friends in the background cheer him on.

    How Bowling Can Improve Your Mental Health

    good cops

    Lost Kid Calls Cops for Help 

  • Obituaries
    Wanda F. Bender

    Wanda F. Bender, 94 of Portsmouth

    David Gershon McFadden, 84 of Wheelersburg

    Leroy Slusher

    Leroy Slusher, 89 of Minford

    Joseph Michael Ober

    Joseph Michael Ober 53 of Oberling

    Helen E. Brown, 89, of McDermott

    Dannette Ann Lowery

    Dannette Ann Lowery, 55 of Mentor, Ohio

    Kathryn Jane Zaayer

    Kathryn Jane Zaayer, 87 of Otway

    Kyle E. Redoutey

    Kyle E. Redoutey, 30

    Myrtle Maxine Carver Boggs

    Myrtle Maxine Carver Boggs, 85 of South Portsmouth

    Patricia Ann Robinson

    Patricia Ann Robinson 73 McDermott

    Barbara Williams

    Shirley Jean Hackworth, 89 of Franklin Furnace,

    Judith Marie Fox

    Judith Marie Fox 81 of Wetumpka

    Janet Sue (Brisker) Risner

    Janet Sue (Brisker) Risner, 83 of Minford

    Prudence Ruth West

    Prudence Ruth West, 82 of Portsmouth,

    Kaitlyn Nicole Murphy

    Kaitlyn Nicole Murphy, 22 of Newcomerstown

    Ricky Edwin Johnson

    Ricky Edwin Johnson 72 of Portsmouth

    Alana Dustianna Meshelle Greene

    Alana Dustianna Meshelle Greene, 32 of Portsmouth

    Estel C. Harr, 68 of Portsmouth

    James L. Slone, 86, of South Webster

    James L. Slone, 86 of South Webster

    Gary Lee Meade,70 of West Portsmouth

  • More News
    • All News
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Education
    • Economy
    • Food & Drinks
    • Local Business
    • National
    • Opinion
    • Regional
    • Strange But True
    • Trending
No Result
View All Result
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result

A Mother’s Anguish: Son on Hunger Strike and Suicide Watch at SOCF

Concerned Citizen by Concerned Citizen
2 years ago
in Opinion
ShareTweetEmail

I am writing regarding the situation at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) with Austin T. Burke who is currently on suicide watch and a hunger strike for the past 7 days or so.

I’m making you aware that he has filed proper grievances about the lack of medical care for the 3 boxer fractures in his right hand, where there is documented evidence that no nurse saw him for an entire 30 days, as no logs were signed by any nurse. This prevented him from being able to make a formal request for care for his open wound and multiple fractures.

He was in the slammer cell as a result of a fight on 8/12/2023 (where he had to defend himself against an Arizona “Mexican Mafia leader”, who threatened to kill him). This Ruben Melendez has brutally killed at least one other prisoner in the past stabbing them 47 times and has stabbed others in OSP). This prisoner unfortunately met his demise three days later, from an unknown etiology.

RELATED POSTS

Merit Smith Chosen to Fill Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

Desperate Search Underway for Missing Mom Who Vanished After Leaving Portsmouth Rehab

Wanda F. Bender, 94 of Portsmouth

Austin Burke was administratively punished with 10 years of solitary confinement which arguably is unconstitutional. He filed a proper appeal to the warden and later to Columbus.

Within 6 hours he received a notice back from Columbus denying his appeal based on events that never actually occurred. It reads that he “assaulted a correctional officer and tried to kill him. This never happened. The statements from the correctional officers on the day of the fight were not indicative of any assault on themselves, and Austin stopped fighting when his name was called. Please see the statements from the correctional officers who were present.

Please Support This Local Business

Since this fight happened and media involvement, there have been correction officers at the SOCF who have made insidious comments and threats to Austin. Despite the fact that he has maintained his innocence, they now are biased against him and believe that he was responsible for the murder of a fellow correction officer’s son.

Austin wrote letters to the deputy director and the director from the prison pleading for help and asking for a transfer for his safety.

I am worried about my son’s continued health and mental health as a result of the lack of proper procedures and the torture and torment that he is being subjected to. I am starting with this letter pleading that somebody take appropriate measures and look into the problems with these circumstances and save my son.

There are many other issues with this fist fight including why both of the doors were rolled when the correction officer named Butler knew that Melendez had threatened to kill Austin. This would be able to be viewed on the body camera within the 20 minutes prior to the fight. And why did he roll both doors and go lock himself in the bubble and allow these two prisoners to fight without any mace or attempts to stop it?

I have tickets from Ohio State Penitentiary where Ruben Melendez has stabbed prisoners there and somehow still earned a transfer to Lucasville, which is a lower-security prison. He never should have been in this prison to be able to threaten my son and he never should have had access to my son by having the doors rolled after there was a clear and obvious threat made to him in front of a correction officer. Why was Melendez not thrown in the hole for threatening to kill my son?

I need somebody to answer this letter immediately with information about the well-being of my son and his health. There are serious problems with how this whole situation has been handled. Cruel and unusual punishment is supposed to be unconstitutional in The United States. Prisoners are supposed to have rights, especially in a state where there are so many wrongfully convicted!!!

Tags: FamilyHealthLetter to EditorLucasvilleOhiosafetySouthern Ohio
Please Support This Local Business
Please login to join discussion

TRENDING NOW

Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 07/28/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

July 28, 2025
Jennifer Walsh

Portsmouth Mom Busted After Child Shows Up Alone at Hospice — Again! 

July 26, 2025
OSP Investigates Crash

Tragedy Strikes Twice: Two Fatal Creek Crashes in a Single Day 

July 28, 2025
Patricia Ann Robinson

Patricia Ann Robinson 73 McDermott

July 26, 2025
Recovery Housing Scioto County

“We Can Shut Down a Bad Diner—But Not a Bad Rehab?”: Powell Pushes for Recovery Housing Reform 

July 28, 2025

ABOUT US

We are a grassroots team of local journalists on a mission to give our community up-to-the-second news and events for Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Western West Virginia. We believe progress inspires change and we believe our reporting has become the front-lines of Portsmouth, Ohio's comeback.

CATEGORIES

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Casino
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • Food & Drink
  • Local Business
  • National
  • Obituaries
  • Ohio
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Public Safety
  • Regional
  • Strange But True
  • Video

AREAS SERVED

  • Portsmouth
  • Wheelersburg
  • Minford
  • Waverly
  • Friendship
  • Ironton
  • West Union
  • Piketon
  • Coal Grove
  • South Point
  • Vanceburg
  • Grayson
  • South Shore
  • Greenup
  • Raceland
  • Ashland

SITE SEARCH

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.