She’s back. The troubled homeless woman who has become the unofficial face of Portsmouth’s mental health and homelessness crisis was once again the subject of police calls and public concern late this week — adding two more incidents and another arrest to an already overwhelming timeline of breakdowns, bizarre behavior, and missed chances for help.
On Thursday, June 26, just before 5 p.m., callers from the Alexandria House reported that the woman was not only trespassing, but had been seen defecating on the property and stealing items. Officers responded and confirmed she was on-site, but with no hard evidence of theft or sanitation violations, they simply told her to move along.
Less than 24 hours later, on Friday, June 27 at 11 a.m., officers were called to a 10th Street business where she was reportedly harassing an employee. By the time police arrived, she had left — heading east toward the railroad tracks. Officers caught up with her a short time later and discovered she had an open warrant from Portsmouth Municipal Court. This time, she was taken into custody and booked into the Scioto County Jail.
For now, she’s off the street and out of the heat, but based on her long, tragic history, many fear it’s only a matter of time before she’s back out again — and spiraling all over again.
🚨 Updated Timeline: A Crisis in Motion
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
- 11:00 AM – 10th Street
Harassing business employee. Located later and arrested on a warrant.
THURSDAY, JUNE 26
- 4:55 PM – Alexandria House
Accused of defecating and stealing from the building. Officers found her on the property but did not observe a crime. She was told to move along.
(Previously reported incidents below)
Portsmouth’s Mentally Ill Left to Spiral in Public, Then Set Free — Again and Again
🧼 A Sanitation Nightmare
Public defecation and urination aren’t just shocking — they’re a public health risk. In recent months, officers and code enforcement have responded to complaints about human waste near parks, in alleys, and behind businesses.
Residents have reported stepping over used toilet paper, discarded clothes, and even soiled buckets near homes and public areas — a disturbing consequence of no public restrooms, no shelter, and no mental health intervention.
Officials say the city isn’t trying to criminalize homelessness, but unsanitary encampments and public defecation are raising serious concerns among both business owners and residents.
⚠️ The Bigger Picture: A System That’s Stuck
This woman has been:
- Banned from counseling centers
- Rejected by rehabs
- Repeatedly arrested
- Released with no support
Her record includes:
- Smashing windows with a bat
- Stealing a truck
- Breaking into homes
- Wandering into people’s yards
- Multiple disorderly conduct and trespass charges
But because her crimes are non-violent, the courts issue the “least restrictive sentence” — meaning probation or time served, and then right back onto the streets. With no inpatient mental health beds in Scioto County, and the nearest psychiatric facility in Athens (90 beds for several counties), there’s simply nowhere for her to go.
🐾 If She Were a Dog…
If this were a neglected animal, the outcry would be immediate. People would demand the dog be rescued, housed, and treated.
But because she’s a human being with untreated mental illness, she’s just dropped off on a corner, until the next call.
⏰ Portsmouth’s Ticking Time Bomb
This isn’t just about one woman. It’s about a broken system that allows suffering to continue while community leaders form task forces and draft reports.
Police try. Businesses try. Even strangers try. But they can’t solve a problem the mental health system won’t touch.
So ask yourself:
- What happens next?
- Who steps in when this story takes a deadly turn?
Because at this rate, it’s not a matter of if — it’s when.
