A 21-year-old rehab patient is being held without bond after Scioto County detectives say he raped a child at knifepoint inside a restroom at Roosevelt Lake while visiting the park with a group from his rehab facility.
The alleged attack happened while the child, who is under the age of 13, was visiting the popular West Portsmouth recreation area with family members.
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman announced the arrest of Norman Meadows following an investigation that began June 15. According to the SCSO, Meadows lists his address as homeless.
Child Taken to Hospital
Detectives became involved after Adena Medical Center in Waverly notified the sheriff’s office that staff were treating a child who had been sexually assaulted.
According to investigators, the child was inside a restroom at Roosevelt Lake when an adult man approached her.
The sheriff’s office says the man displayed a knife, threatened the child, and raped her.
Before fleeing, investigators say he warned the child that he knew where she lived and would hurt her and her family if she told anyone what happened.
Detectives Search Lake and Woods
Scioto County detectives and officers from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources searched the restroom, the surrounding grounds, and nearby wooded areas for evidence.
Witness statements and other leads revealed that a large group from a local drug rehabilitation program had been at the lake around the time of the assault.
Detectives later served a search warrant at the program’s Portsmouth location to collect DNA samples and photographs.
After reviewing crime lab results, investigators traveled to the program’s Ironton location.
With the cooperation of the facility, detectives detained Meadows for questioning and took him into custody.
Six Felony Charges Filed
Meadows was booked into the Scioto County Jail on the following charges:
- Rape, a first-degree felony
- Kidnapping, a first-degree felony
- Felonious assault, a second-degree felony
- Abduction, a third-degree felony
- Tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony
- Possession of criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony
He appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court and was ordered held without bond.
More Charges Possible
Sheriff Thoroughman said the investigation remains active and additional charges may be presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury.
He thanked the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office, Adena Medical Center, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Garden Family Advocacy Center in Chillicothe, and the drug rehabilitation program for helping detectives with the investigation.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.
The charges are allegations. Meadows is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
