A man who has spent years drifting between Scioto County and Illinois is now sitting in jail facing the most serious charge possible under Ohio law.
Darius Herron, who has given addresses in Chicago, is currently being held in the Scioto County Jail on charges of aggravated murder, obstruction of official business, and assault.
🕵️ What We Know—And What We Don’t
At this point, very little information has been released about the alleged murder itself. Court records offer few details about what happened, when it happened, or who the victim may be. Investigators and prosecutors have not yet outlined the facts of the case publicly.
Here’s the timeline that is visible in court records:
- January 14: Assault charge filed
- January 24: Herron arrested and booked into the Scioto County Jail, listing an Illinois address
- January 28: Aggravated murder and obstruction of official business charges filed in court
Herron appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court, where the judge ordered him held in jail under bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 5.
📍 Chicago Address—But Not New to Portsmouth
Although Herron now claims he lives in Chicago, court records show he has been in the Portsmouth area for at least two years.
- August 2024: Charged locally with aggravated menacing and disorderly conduct. A public defender was appointed. The menacing charge was dismissed; Herron was convicted of disorderly conduct and ordered to pay court costs.
- June 2025: Arrested again in Scioto County for assault, once more listing an Illinois address. He pleaded no contest and received a 15-day suspended jail sentence, a fine, and court costs—again with a publicly funded defense.
- September 2025: Stopped for driving left of center, this time giving a Portsmouth address.
For this most recent arrest, Herron again lists Chicago as his residence.
🗂️ Trouble Follows Across State Lines
Illinois court records indicate Herron also has a violent criminal history outside Ohio, including:
- 2017: Arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- 2018: Arrests for
- Felon in possession/use of a firearm
- Unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member in a vehicle
- Driving on a suspended license
❓ Big Questions Remain
Right now, the most pressing questions are unanswered:
- What led to the aggravated murder charge?
- Where did the alleged crime occur?
- Why has so little information been released?
Those answers are likely to emerge at the preliminary hearing or through future court filings.
📰 We’re Watching This Case Closely
Given the severity of the charge—and Herron’s long, multi-state criminal history—this case is expected to draw significant attention as it moves forward.
SCDN will continue digging for details and will update readers as soon as more information becomes available.