Southern Ohio has lived with rumors of corruption and trafficking for decades. Now, investigative records tied to disgraced attorney and former Portsmouth City Councilman Mike Mearan show just how deep the problem may run — and who else might have been involved.
For years, Scioto County Daily News publisher Mark Craycraft has pushed for accountability, demanding answers about missing women, silenced victims, and powerful men whose names never reached the headlines. What began as whispers about Mearan has grown into something larger: a web of alleged co-conspirators, courthouse cover-ups, and survivors who deserve to be heard.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Dave Yost confirmed the investigation is still open. While statutes of limitation may protect some suspects, cases involving minors remain active — and indictments are possible. That means the story is far from over.
In this special edition, we’re bringing you a six-part investigative series based on those records, victim testimony, and years of digging by our newsroom. Each article shines a light on a different piece of the puzzle:
- [Gene Meadows: Attorney Turned Alleged Predator] – A longtime Portsmouth lawyer accused of using legal fees as currency for sex.
- [The Florida Connection: Who is Albert Schaub?] – A summer home in Florida, women flown out of Southern Ohio, and echoes of the Epstein scandal.
- [The Kentucky Link: Daren Biggs] – How a court-appointed lawyer allegedly sold his own client to a buyer across state lines.
- [From Courtrooms to Football Fields: Marc Rash] – The double life of a man spotted at OSU games who victims say was also buying sex.
- [The Keeper of Secrets: Who Hid the Files?] – Explosive claims that courthouse employees hid records for seven years to protect predators.
- [To the Victims: We Believe You] – A direct message to survivors: you are not alone, and the time to come forward is now.
Together, these stories reveal the outlines of a scandal bigger than one man — a scandal that has scarred families, stolen futures, and stained Southern Ohio’s reputation.
At SCDN, we believe the truth matters. We believe victims should be heard. And we believe this community deserves to know who betrayed its trust.
This is not just about the past. It’s about the future we choose to build.
