CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe physician’s assistant has been at the center of controversy and scandal lately. The latest allegations against local medical provider, Rufus Lowman Jr., have been disturbing. Now, new claims of an alleged murder-for-hire plot have surfaced.
The Guardian has obtained text messages allegedly sent by Lowman outlining the supposed plot to kill a local community advocate. The messages, sent to an anonymous individual, reveal a chilling intent. One message reads, “Why complain when all I need to do is get rid of Cheryl.” Cheryl, whose last name has been redacted for privacy, is a community organizer and recovery advocate in Ross County.
Lowman is accused of paying recovering drug addicts in the form of prescription pills to do “dirty work” for him, including the alleged murder. In addition, he had a voodoo doll of the target.
These allegations have surfaced amidst a backdrop of other serious accusations against Lowman. His medical practice was recently closed following the suspension of his license by the state medical board due to allegations of illegal prescription writing. According to records obtained by the Guardian, Lowman allegedly unlawfully prescribed Schedule II controlled substances to 11 patients without the required supervision or approval between September 2022 and March 14, 2024.
Lowman’s alleged actions contravene state regulations designed to safeguard against prescription abuse. Schedule II drugs, as classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency, are substances with a high potential for abuse and severe dependence. Their prescription is subject to stringent regulations. Authorities further allege that Lowman ran what they term an “illegal pill mill,” a facility dispensing narcotics inappropriately or for non-medical purposes.
The allegations don’t stop there. Former employees of Rose Medical Clinic, where Lowman worked, have come forward with their own stories. They paint a picture of a workplace rife with unethical behaviors, including insurance fraud and HIPAA violations. One former employee alleges that an office manager used Lowman’s tablet to send in medications that only Lowman was authorized to prescribe.
Perhaps the most disturbing allegations against Lowman involve sexual abuse. A woman has come forward alleging that Lowman began abusing her when she was just 11 years old in 2008. The alleged abuse, which reportedly occurred over several years in both Florida and Ohio, has been under investigation since 2015 by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office. Despite an audio recording purportedly containing Lowman’s confession to the sexual abuse being in possession of authorities, no charges were filed due to a reported lack of cooperation from the victim.
However, the Guardian has obtained the same audio recording allegedly containing Lowman’s confession to sexual abuse. In the recording, a man purported to be Lowman can be heard blaming the child, claiming she was the one who initiated the sexual encounters. He also allegedly admitted to paying the victim to keep quiet about the abuse.
The Guardian spoke with the Lee County, Florida’s Sheriff’s Office who said since the Guardian’s reporting, they are looking into criminal charges against Lowman in their state. Under a newly enacted Florida law, Lowman, if charged and convicted, could face the death penalty. The new law signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis allows the death penalty for child rape if the victim is under the age of 12.
Currently, Rose Medical Clinic is closed down. A sign that reads “temporarily closed” is taped to the front door of the medical clinic. According to the state of Ohio, Lowman can request a hearing to fight to get his medical license reinstated. The criminal case against him remains under investigation.
