An anonymous tip tied to a missing person’s case brought a swarm of law enforcement vehicles and forensic equipment to Portsmouth’s Robinson Avenue on Thursday — and for several tense hours, neighbors and passersby were left wondering if the city was about to become the scene of another tragic discovery.
Dark unmarked trucks and SUVs lined the 2200 block. Investigators hauled out shovels. Protective forensic gear appeared. Ground-penetrating radar was deployed. Officers searched behind aging homes and examined a pickup stuffed with used furniture and rusted appliances.
To anyone watching, it looked like the beginning of a major excavation.
Rumors spread quickly. Some feared a body had been located. Others speculated it involved a homicide — or yet another homeless person lost to winter in an area known for nearby camps.
But after several hours of intense searching, authorities quietly wrapped up.
Nothing was found.
What Police Say Happened
Portsmouth Police Department confirmed to Scioto County Daily News that the activity stemmed from an anonymous out-of-state tip connected to a missing person’s case.
Deputy Police Chief Jason Hedrick said investigators brought in outside personnel and specialized technology to follow up on the lead.
“The activity on Robinson Avenue was in response to an out-of-state anonymous tip that was sent to our department about a missing person’s case,” Hedrick said. “Outside personnel and technology were utilized. The anonymous tip was determined to be unfounded.”
He added that there is no danger to the public.
“We just have to run down all tips on cases like this.”
Why It Looked So Serious
Witnesses reported seeing officers wearing forensic-style protective gear, unloading equipment, and preparing what appeared to be a large dig site. Ground-penetrating radar was used behind several properties, and investigators methodically worked the area before eventually clearing the scene.
The heavy response — especially on one of Portsmouth’s busiest corridors — fueled widespread speculation online and in the neighborhood.
In the end, the search produced no evidence and no victims.
The Bigger Picture
Police are not releasing which missing person’s case prompted the search.
But the incident highlights a sobering reality: southern Ohio continues to grapple with a growing number of unresolved disappearances, particularly involving women. Advocates and families across the region are still searching for answers in dozens of open cases — many of which receive little attention outside local communities.
Every credible tip, even anonymous ones from out of state, has to be treated seriously.
And sometimes, that means bringing out radar and forensic teams — even when it ultimately leads nowhere.
SCDN will continue following this developing story and will update readers if additional information becomes available.
If you have information about missing persons cases in southern Ohio, you’re encouraged to contact local law enforcement.
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