Portsmouth Police say a local couple whose social media was overflowing with sunshine, lip-sync videos, and declarations of love were actually hiding a horrifying secret.
Gerald O’Hara, 43, and Beverly O’Hara, 38, of 20th Street were arrested on December 4 in what investigators are calling a major child-exploitation case. The pair — who often posted upbeat TikTok-style skits featuring themselves and children — now face three second-degree felonies each:
- Pandering obscenity involving a minor
- Pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor
- Illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material
Both were hauled off to the Scioto County Jail, where they are being held pending further court action.
The Picture-Perfect Persona
If you scroll through Beverly O’Hara’s public posts, you’d swear this was a storybook family. Her profile is filled with gushy captions like:
“I love being his wife! Happy spouse, happy house!”
Gerald’s self-listed occupation?
“Loving My Wife and Kids.”
But behind those smiling videos and cutesy quotes, officers say the couple was involved in something else entirely — something investigators describe as “deeply disturbing.”
How Police Found Out
According to the Portsmouth Police Department, the investigation began when the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) flagged child sexual assault materials being transmitted online through phone numbers linked to the couple.
Police executed a search warrant at the home on December 4. Whatever detectives found was enough to immediately arrest both Gerald and Beverly on the spot.
Their Court Records
Neither had a long criminal history:
- Gerald O’Hara: one drug abuse charge from 2006, dismissed
- Beverly O’Hara: a handful of minor municipal cases
Nothing that hinted at the accusations now leveled against them.
The couple appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on December 5. A preliminary hearing is set for December 11, where the judge will determine whether they remain in jail or may be released on bond.
Police Need the Public’s Help
Investigators believe there may be more information out there. Anyone with details is urged to contact:
Detective Tori Pistole — Portsmouth Police Department
Phone: 740-354-1600
A Community in Shock
Neighbors say they’re stunned. Social media followers say they’re floored. And detectives say this isn’t the kind of case that ends with a single arrest.
A family that looked “perfect” online now faces allegations that prosecutors call among the most serious crimes imaginable.
The smiling videos may still be online — but the façade, police say, has been shattered.
