ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — The Ross County Sheriff’s Office is investigating allegations of sexual abuse involving a resident of the Scioto Trails Group Home on Jude Lane. According to an official report from the Sheriff’s Office, an anonymous employee contacted law enforcement on September 3, 2024, to report the potential sexual assault of a developmentally disabled resident by an employee of the facility. The Sheriff’s Office has not released the names of any individuals involved, citing privacy and the ongoing investigation.
The anonymous caller, who identified herself as an employee of Scioto Trails, alleged that a male resident had complained that his “butt hurt” and claimed that an employee performed a non-consensual rectal exam on the resident. The caller alleged that the employee, who lacked proper medical training, had inserted his entire un-lubricated hand into the resident’s rectum, purportedly to relieve constipation. The caller refused to provide her name or further contact information, stating that she feared being fired if management discovered she reported the incident.
A deputy was dispatched to the Scioto Trails Group Home shortly after the call. According to the report, the deputy’s initial attempts to follow up on the information provided by the anonymous caller were unsuccessful. The phone number given to the dispatcher was disconnected, and the facility staff claimed to be unaware of the alleged incident. The deputy consulted with supervisors to determine how to proceed, given the sensitive nature of the allegations and the lack of solid information.
During the welfare check at the facility, the deputy spoke privately with a nurse who reportedly had no prior knowledge of the alleged incident. Initially, the nurse believed the deputy might be referencing a different complaint involving an employee accused of inappropriately rubbing against another employee. After being briefed, the nurse contacted her management team for guidance.
The deputy was then escorted to meet the alleged victim, who was seated at a kitchen table. The resident, who has developmental disabilities, was asked a series of questions regarding his well-being. According to the report, the resident’s responses were inconsistent, and his demeanor changed abruptly when asked if his “butt hurt.” He sternly said, “NO” and began rocking back and forth before stating he needed to “go poop” and abruptly left the room. The deputy noted that this sudden behavioral shift raised concerns and reported these observations to superiors.
Later that evening, the deputy met with a Patient Care Advocate at Adena Regional Medical Center, where the resident had been taken for further examination. The advocate reported that two employees of Scioto Trails, who were at the hospital with the resident, claimed that the suspect had confessed to the inappropriate actions to Human Resources. When the deputy asked where this information originated, the employees indicated that they had heard it from a coworker who was present at the time of the alleged confession.
The investigation took a further turn when the deputy spoke with one of the employees who described an earlier complaint involving a different resident. This resident had reportedly written a note accusing the same suspect of “saying and doing inappropriate things” and had handed it to a staff member from another building. According to the employee, the suspect confronted the resident, warning him not to write any more notes about him. This incident raises additional concerns about the conduct of the suspect and the potential for further abuse.
The investigation remains ongoing as the Sheriff’s Office continues to gather more details. The Board of Developmental Disabilities and the Central Ohio Council of Governments are also involved in the investigation.
EDITOR’S NOTE: All information for this story came directly from the police report provided to the Guardian from the Ross Co. Sheriff’s Office. Any discrepancies should be directed to the reporting agency.