On Tuesday night, Cara Paulsen and her son, Jacob Stewart, didn’t have a choice. With their phones snatched away and a “machete” held to Cara’s throat, the pair fled their Cleveland Road West apartment and ran straight into the lobby of the Huron Police Department.

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“Not yet,” Tricia Shepard texted late Sunday. She was responding to a question about whether she’s heard from them since Sheriff Corbin let deputies keep her waiting in the jail lobby last week for more than an hour. No one ever came out to talk to her. A source told StayTunedSandusky that Lt. Bob Duncan was explicitly ordered by Corbin not to see or speak with Tricia and her family that day, April 14.

Tricia hangs on hope—the smallest of signs that the sheriff’s office might help, might listen, might someday care. She doesn’t know where else to turn. She thinks, “Maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow.” She wakes up every day ready to fight for her daughter, but some days, she admits, the weariness takes over. She is tired. She is sad. But she won’t quit. She’ll die before she stops fighting for Katelynn.

Corbin and Sitterly don’t seem to care a lick about that.

Tricia Shepard was there last Tuesday with Katelynn’s stepfather, Jeff Maletz, and their younger daughter, Hailey Maletz. They showed up for a scheduled appointment because that is what families do. A news team from TV Channel 19 in Cleveland was also there, alongside StayTunedSandusky.

A dispatcher claimed Corbin, who refuses to speak directly to the press, could not be located. He hasn’t contacted Tricia since to reschedule. For eight years, he has refused to meet with the family or provide a meaningful update on the investigation. Tricia wonders why she should be surprised, then forces herself to remain hopeful.

It remains unknown why Corbin and Sitterly are treating Katelynn’s family with such disregard. Sitterly, mirroring the sheriff, also refuses to speak to the press on the record.

Same old script

Corbin treated the family of Amanda Dean—murdered in 2017, a year before Katelynn was killed—in the exact same disrespectful manner. At one point, Corbin and Chief Deputy David Ditz practically chased Amanda’s mother and sister out of the sheriff’s office, telling them they would not help when they asked for help.

The Dean family now has a pending federal lawsuit, contending the sheriff and his deputies denied Amanda’s civil rights when they failed to arrest Fred Reer six months before he killed her, after assaulting her. Corbin and as many as 10 sheriff’s office employees are currently scheduled for depositions in that suit.

In March, Judge Jack Zouhary ordered Attorney General Dave Yost to turn over the state’s murder investigation files, including documents Yost is trying to keep sealed. Those files are expected to explain why Corbin provided a false narrative and refused to investigate Amanda’s death for years. It’s been three years since Yost and BCI learned who lied about Amanda Dean being alive, and why, but they will not provide the records about it.

There’s been speculation that Sitterly, and the AG’s office are protecting Corbin, worried about the outcome in the Dean family lawsuit, or any potential lawsuit from Tricia’s family. Judge Zouhary is the only public official demanding accountability.

Corbin’s behavior would be concerning if these were just everyday constituents. But these families belong to a club nobody wants to join. They are the “royalty” of grief: crime victims who lost loved ones under mysterious circumstances. They are mothers whom Corbin refuses to assist—tasks that fall squarely within a sheriff’s scope of authority. The same is true for Sitterly.

Hell bent on silence

Corbin and Sitterly appear intent on keeping BCI away from the Katelynn Shepard investigation. Tracy Thom, who triggered the Amanda Dean investigation in 2022 with a “Proof of Life” demand, says Corbin fears BCI because of what they uncovered last time.

For six years, Corbin pushed a false narrative that Amanda Dean was alive and safe in a shelter. State investigators disproved that claim almost immediately after taking the case in January 2023. Fred Reer was eventually convicted of her murder late last year.

To date, BCI, Assistant Attorney General Dan Kasaris, and BCI Special Agent John Saraya have all declined to say whether the state is considering charges against Corbin or his staff for their roles in delaying that investigation. Ohio AG Dave Yost also refuses to explain why Corbin caused the delay or who exactly lied about Amanda being alive. Corbin claimed a shelter director told him Amanda was safe; sources tell StayTunedSandusky that investigators found no phone records to back that up at the start of the state’s investigation.

Step Aside

Tricia’s family and Thom contend the sheriff’s office is far too compromised to conduct a competent investigation into Katelynn’s death. According to federal court records, the state continues to investigate Corbin. Tricia has every reason to doubt the him, according to Thom. Who killed Amanda Dean was never a murder mystery, in the first place. The level of incompetence it would have taken to decide there was nothing to investigate in 2017 would have been astonishingly enormous.

Last week, after Corbin “could not be located” for his appointment with Tricia, he emailed the TV-19 reporter later that day. He claimed the sheriff’s investigation was still open, but refused to comment on the family’s request for BCI to take over.

It isn’t clear, however, that anyone at the sheriff’s office is actually investigating. StayTunedSandusky learned that new evidence was sent to a detective last week, but there has been no acknowledgment from the sheriff’s office that it’s been received.

Just days before the scheduled meeting, sources also say Sitterly held a clandestine meeting with a local reporter. He allegedly told that reporter to warn Tricia and Tracy Thom that even if they asked for BCI, the Attorney General’s office might not agree to it. He also said crackpot convicted podcaster Ashli Ford might show up at the meeting, which would likely have been a victims rights law violation if Sitterly had allowed it.

Yost, his press office, Kasaris, Carol O’Brien, the AG’s chief prosecutor, and BCI Agent John Saraya all declined to say if BCI would help, if asked, or why it would refuse to help, as Sitterly suggested might happen. They also declined to speculate why Sitterly might be trying to keep BCI sidelined.

Generally — but not always — BCI must be asked by local law enforcement to investigate a local case before BCI can start a local investigation. Even though he’s already under investigation by BCI in the Dean case, Corbin, as sheriff, can prevent himself from being investigated for any potential wrongdoing in the Katelynn Shepard investigation by preventing BCI from joining, or taking over the probe. As long as Sitterly goes along, that is. They are the only two officials — technically–who have the authority to ask BCI investigate.

Sheriff Corbin and Sitterly have not asked for BCI’s help. They seem determined to keep the state out. The last time the state got involved, it led to a murder conviction and put Corbin in the bullseye. So, Tricia waits in the lobby. She waits for a phone call to reschedule that hasn’t come.

And she thinks, “Maybe tomorrow.”

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The department made Kreager the job offer while he was serving a jail sentence on a domestic violence-related conviction. Sandusky County District 2 Judge Cynthia Welty signed a Judgment Entry that effectively paved Kreager’s way back into a patrol car.

‘Work-only’ weapon

The order contains a striking compromise: Kreager is authorized to carry a firearm only during his hours of employment and must “secure said firearm in a locked safe at the Clay Township Police Department” immediately following each shift.

The court doesn’t trust Kreager enough to let him take his service weapon home between shifts, but it’s confident enough to give him back his gun and his badge during the day to keep the townsfolk in line.

He still has his Taser weapon, too. The 37-year-old officer’s rapid return to duty comes despite a criminal record involving allegations of child endangering and a separate, pending federal lawsuit for near-lethal excessive use of force with his Taser.

Judge Welty signed a judgment entry April 16, 2025. The restriction serves as a tacit acknowledgement of risk—an admission that the defendant should not have access to a weapon in a domestic setting—yet it allowed Kreager to bypass the standard probation terms that prohibit convicted offenders from possessing weapons.

Timing is everything

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Detours

• Lane Shift: Traffic on Cleveland Road is being routed through the southern portion of the newly constructed roundabout. This shift allows crews to focus on completing the center and northern sections of the project.

• Cedar Point Drive Closure: Access to Cedar Point Drive from Cleveland Road remains fully closed.

• Detour Route: Drivers are directed to use Sycamore Line to Fifth Street to access Cedar Point Drive.

• Timeline: The roundabout is scheduled to open to traffic by May 8, with the entire project reaching full completion in Fall 2026.

Cleveland Road Corridor

The ongoing construction is part of a multi-year infrastructure initiative aimed at modernizing one of Sandusky’s busiest gateways. The intersection of Cleveland Road and Cedar Point Drive has historically struggled with congestion, particularly during the peak summer tourism season when traffic surges toward the peninsula.

Key Objectives of the Project:

• Safety Improvements: The transition from a traditional signalized intersection to a multi-lane roundabout is designed to reduce the severity of accidents and eliminate high-speed T-bone collisions.

• Improved Traffic Flow: Roundabouts allow for a more continuous flow of vehicles, reducing the long idling times previously seen during peak hours at the Cedar Point entrance.

• Infrastructure Modernization: Beyond the pavement, the project includes extensive utility relocations—water, sewer, and electrical lines—ensuring the corridor can support future development.

• Connectivity: The Fall 2026 completion will include enhanced pedestrian and bike access, aligning with the city’s broader goal of making the waterfront area more accessible to non-motorized travel.

Construction remains on schedule, but motorists are encouraged to leave early and anticipate delays while the temporary signals are in place.

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Source: City news release

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Dear Rusty: I turn 65 this November 2026. Someone told me I need to set up a Social Security account at least 3 months ahead of time before applying for Medicare for the first time. I do not intend to take any Social Security benefits until, perhaps, age 67 or later. Please advise and thank you. Signed: Looking Ahead

Dear Looking Ahead: You don’t technically need to “set up” an online SSA account to enroll in Medicare, but it would be more efficient to do so. We always recommend creating your online “my Social Security” account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount well before you are ready to claim your Social Security benefits. That’s because you can monitor your projected Social Security benefits to help you decide when to claim, but it also facilitates other things you might need to do at the Social Security Administration (such as claiming your SS retirement benefits online and enrolling in Medicare online).

As for Medicare, you can enroll in Medicare up to 3 months before the month you turn 65, and you can contact the Social Security Administration by phone up to 3 months prior in order to schedule an appointment to enroll over the phone (call 1.800.772.1213 to make the appointment). You can enroll via telephone, even if you don’t have your “my Social Security” online account set up. However, an advantage to creating your personal online Social Security account Is that you could then enroll in Medicare online as described at this link: www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up. And you can, as you wish to do, enroll only in Medicare without also taking your Social Security benefits at this time.

I want to also make you aware that if you are still working and have “creditable” healthcare coverage from your employer (“creditable” is an employer group plan with at least 20 participants), then you can delay enrolling in Medicare until your employer coverage ends (thus saving the usual Medicare Part B monthly premium). When your employer’s healthcare coverage ends, you will enter a Special Enrollment Period during which you can enroll in Medicare without incurring a Late Enrollment Penalty.

Finally, please be aware that whenever you claim your Social Security benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A (inpatient hospitalization coverage) and Part B (coverage for outpatient medical services). Since there is a monthly premium associated with Medicare Part B (but not with Part A), you can choose to decline Part B if you are still working and covered by your employer’s creditable healthcare plan, until your employer’s healthcare coverage ends.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-dvisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

About AMAC

The 2.4 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] amac.us is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. AMAC Action is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing the membership in our nation’s capital and in local Congressional Districts throughout the country. And the AMAC Foundation (www.AmacFoundation.org) is the Association’s non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting and educating America’s Seniors. Together, we act and speak on the Association members’ behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at www.amac.us/join-amac

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It isn’t a story about a lovely lady or a man named Brady. In the world of law enforcement, a ‘Brady Cop’ is much less wholesome. A Brady Cop is a law enforcement officer with a documented history of misconduct—specifically involving untruthfulness, bias, or criminal acts—that could be used by a defense attorney to impeach their credibility as a witness. Under the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brady v. Maryland, prosecutors are legally required to disclose this “impeachment material” to the defense.

Could Sheriff Corbin be impeached on the witness stand? Does a peach have fuzz?

• Documented False Claims: A lawsuit filed in late 2024 by Amanda Dean’s family alleges that Corbin made false claims regarding the investigation into her death to cover up a “botched” initial response to a domestic violence incident six months earlier.

• The “No Lies” Rule: In Ohio, being caught in a material lie or misrepresenting facts in an official capacity is the primary trigger for a “Brady” designation. If a court or internal investigation sustains a finding that he provided false information to the media or in reports to shield the department from scrutiny, he would be an “impeached” witness.

• Liability Risk: When an officer with a history of alleged dishonesty remains on the force without being “Brady listed,” it creates a massive legal liability for the county. Every case they touch can be overturned if the prosecutor failed to disclose that the officer has a record of untruthfulness.

Seeking (to hide) the truth

The OhioAttorney General’s office already knows the answers, but refuses to disclose what was determined. The OAG has confirmed Corbin continues to be under investigation, and it’s directly related to how he delayed the Amanda Dean homicide investigation for six years with the false narrative. What Corbin said the director told him about Amanda being alive was not possible, the state’s homicide investigation concluded, because by the time he was allegedly told this she was already dead. They know when Fred Reer killed Amanda Dean.

Meet me in the law library?

In short, Corbin is a candidate for the list because his credibility has been legally and publicly challenged in a way that makes his future testimony a liability for any prosecution. Problem is it’s Huron County Prosecutor James Sitterly who would make the decision on a Brady Cop designation. He’s been running interference for Corbin on the Dean homicide and another botched cold case, not holding the sheriff accountable. Sitterly tried to kibosh a meeting last week between the sheriff and a grieving mother who wants an update on her daughter’s 2018 murder investigation. Sitterly told a reporter in a clandestine secret meeting that convicted podcaster Ashli Ford might pop up at the meeting.

The grieving mom, Tricia Shepard, has a pending complaint against Ford for harassment. Tricia alleges Ford is exploiting her daughter’s case, using it as clickbait to make money on social media. It remains unknown why Sitterly told a reporter that Ford might be at the meeting, or why he didn’t simply bar Ford from attending since her attendance would be a clear violation of Ohio’s victim’s rights law. As it turned out, both Sitterly and Corbin failed to attend the scheduled meeting. They left Tricia Shepard and her family in the lobby for over an hour while a dispatcher tried unsuccessfully to find them. It’s not known if they re-contacted Tricia, or rescheduled the meeting.

Tricia wants the sheriff to ask BCI to investigate her daughter’s murder, citing too many similarities with her case and how Amanda Dean’s case were handled by the sheriff. Katelynn Shepard was 21 in July 2018 when she was killed after the vehicle she was in went off the road and burst into flames. There’s no evidence the incident is an accident, according to the state’s crash report. Katelynn Shepard’s death certificate states her death was an accident, but it also fails to cite any evidence it was an accident.

He does

Sitterly, who by state law is statutory legal counsel for the sheriff, has conflicted away all his credibility as it regards Corbin. He was asked this week if Corbin has been placed on the county’s Brady List or whether the court has been informed of the current situation. Sitterly worked with the attorney general’s office prosecuting Fred Reer for murdering Amanda Dean in July 2017. He likely knows exactly what investigators determined concerning who lied about Amanda being “safe and alive” at a shelter, the false narrative the sheriff provided the community for nearly six years.

Sitterly also told the reporter in the law library “off record” that BCI would probably reject taking on Katelynn’s Shepard’s case and said the reporter should warn her mother that might happen. Both Sitterly and Corbin are refusing to ask the state crime lab, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), to take over the case, and it’s unknown why Corbin thinks it would be rejected or why he doesn’t meet with Tricia to talk about her daughter’s case.

Tracy Thom, an advocate helping Tricia Shepard and her family push back against Sitterly and Corbin’s “enormous wall of obstruction,” speculated it’s because of what happened after she convinced BCI to take on the Amanda Dean investigation.

“They found that Sheriff Corbin lied for six years,” she said. “That’s what they found.”

Fading credibility

The foundation under these officials — Sitterly and Corbin — has been melting like the polar icecaps for years, since before the Sandusky Register exposed the lies about the Amanda Dean investigation. Years ago I asked Sitterly about the county’s Brady List and he refused to answer. Other prosecutors in other counties were providing their lists; it wasn’t that big a deal. But Sitterly wasn’t. Weeks went by, turned into months. But some readers, during this time, sent me old police reports about Corbin’s first cousin, (now former) Det. Sgt. Shannon Lyons, getting arrested in incidents that happened prior to when he was hired as a deputy. Lyons slipped through the cracks getting hired; the arrests would have disqualified him had they been disclosed.

We published news articles about Sitterly’s stubborn refusal to simply meet the responsibilities of his office and give us the Brady List. We published news articles about those old arrest reports, too — and other information that readers sent us after we verified it — and we continued to push Sitterly hard. It was those reports and those news articles that got the snowball rolling down the hill, perhaps, or, started melting those icecaps.

Is Corbin a Brady cop?

StayTunedSanduksy.com wrote Sitterly today asking him about Corbin. We are asking if Sheriff Corbin should be or will be placed on the county’s Brady List following Ohio BCI findings that he provided a false narrative regarding the 2017 disappearance of Amanda Dean. He stuck to that story for six years, beyond reason.

There’s only two ways, it seems, that this can go: Either Sheriff Corbin and his detectives were so fully and completely incompetent that they could not solve the simplest murder mystery of all time — look behind the door — or someone lied to delay any murder investigation and potentially stop one from ever being conducted.

Sitterly already knows who lied. He might even be able to discern who is incompetent. So too do Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, assistant Attorney General Daniel Kasaris, Special Agent Jon Saraya, assistant attorney general Micah Ault, the sheriff, and his 10 deputies. They all know.

But for you, me, and the general public — including the families directly impacted — it’s a secret. The question we all should be asking: Why are they hiding it from the public?

Stay Tuned.

Details in a sheriff’s report of an investigation into the complaints are alarming some families, but school officials took the news with a shrug.

“The individual is currently an employee of the school district, as no criminal wrongdoing was established through the investigation,” Mangas wrote in response to a decision by the county prosecutor’s office to not file charges.

There was no anti-grooming law in effect when the first incidents occurred, in 2021 and 2022, and the later incidents do not meet the requirements of the statute that was enacted in April 2025, according to the prosecutor’s office. Mangas emphasized that the school district is “not a law enforcement agency” and defers to those agencies when making personnel decisions.

The superintendent’s statement clarifies the district’s stance on the janitor’s employment, but it offered no insight as to whether the behavior was ever addressed, or if any monitoring plan was established after the first complaint was filed four years ago.

Keep it quiet

District families were never kept informed after the first complaint, or after a second one was made with a sheriff’s deputy in August 2025, according to a sheriff’s report obtained this week by StayTunedSandusky.com in response to a public records request. The sheriff’s office didn’t start an investigation until after the newspaper reported about the complaints in early January.

When they did meet with the complainants later in January, family members told detectives that for the families involved it was pretty obvious district officials favored the janitor over them, the reports states.

One parent told detectives the district made the janitor apologize and she said she was told there was a plan to monitor his behavior, according to the report. But there isn’t any indication in the janitor’s district personnel file that any action was taken after the complaints were made, or that any monitoring was conducted. There’s no documentation showing that the employee was ever even informed about the complaints.

Mangas’ response also raises new questions whether the district approves staff members exchanging “I love you” notes with children and leaving special gifts for them in their cars, or going on special trips. The janitor did all those things with the girl, according to the sheriff’s report, assertions he did not dispute.

There also are red flags regarding the school’s internal record-keeping. Mangas offered no explanation.

“At this time, the district does not have records on file documenting the specific incidents,” he said.

There is no documentation in the district’s files that it was ever notified of the complaints in 2022 and again in 2025, or records that reflect the janitor was ever spoken with or counseled about them. As far as district files are concerned, the janitor has an unblemished record. There’s no mention of the complaints the families lodged against him.

The only record provided by the district in response to our public records request for personnel and disciplinary records is a copy of an alleged love letter the janitor and a 14-year-old girl exchanged, which has no discernible information. It’s not clear why Mangas provided it.

StayTunedSandusky renewed its records requests to the sheriff for copies of the letters and notes that were exchanged with the girls, and for a copy of the Put-in-Bay Police Department’s investigation of the 2022 complaint.

Leadership transition

Mangas, who was not the superintendent at the time of the original 2021–2022 incidents, said his knowledge is strictly limited to “current district records and the recent investigation.” This distancing suggests a gap between the administration that oversaw the initial reports and the current leadership tasked with answering for them now.

Read-watch Part 1

What’s Next?

The district has stated they have “no further comment on this matter at this time.”

However, for parents and community members, the discrepancy remains: If the Sheriff’s Office has records of these concerns, why does the school district claim they do not?

We will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.

Stay Tuned.
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A/I assistant’s transcription

Below is a transcription summary of the 22-page redacted sheriff’s report filed April 8, 2026, by detectives related to their interviews with student families:

The supplemental investigative reports from Ottawa County detail a repetitive pattern of behavior by the suspect, identified by several witnesses as targeting specific female students under the guise of mentorship. One witness noted that while the suspect appeared “amazing” to some, he seemed to specifically target “the weakest link,” such as students lacking a male role model or those who were not socially accepted by their peers. Over a period of several years, this behavior manifested through anonymous notes, snacks, and “love letters” consistently signed “Love Mr. —,” often accompanied by a heart symbol.

Witnesses described a series of escalating interactions, including an incident where the suspect snuck his dog into the school to have private interactions with a student. One victim reported receiving approximately seven to eight notes over a three-year period, noting that every “love note” was accompanied by a treat. In one instance, a brownie was placed in a student’s locker with a note claiming the gesture was out of the “kindness of his heart” after she had initially refused his offer to buy her a treat during a school field trip.

The records further detail a 2024 senior spring break trip to Hawaii, where the suspect reportedly took a student on a “solo boat ride” with just the two of them. Upon returning, the student was reportedly wearing different clothes and later told her best friend that the trip was “the worst decision that she had ever made”. Despite these reports, witnesses expressed deep displeasure with the school’s response, stating that administrators treated the victims differently after they reported the behavior.

Physical evidence mentioned in the narratives includes at least two letters with hearts on them, one of which appeared to have the heart partially erased before being turned over to law enforcement. One student expressed that she now feels “scared” every time she sees the suspect at school. The reports also highlight that the suspect would go out of his way to say “hi” to specific students while not maintaining the same level of friendliness with the general student body.

Families involved in the investigation reported that the school failed to provide assistance and instead seemed to protect the suspect’s reputation. One parent noted that the suspect would make “nice comments” to students to build rapport, causing some to initially defend him by saying “he’s not like that”. However, the investigation remained pending as more victims and witnesses came forward with similar stories of “special relationships” and unmonitored access to minors.

The investigating deputy, Det. Rob Russell, concluded these interviews noting the ongoing nature of the case and the continued dissatisfaction of the public regarding how these incidents were handled by both school officials and initial responding officers. The narratives underscore a systemic failure to recognize these “mentorship” behaviors as potential grooming, even after multiple families raised concerns about inappropriate gifts, private outings, and “love letters” sent to students as young as 14.

The investigative reports from Ottawa County document a persistent pattern of behavior by a school employee, identified as a janitor, who allegedly targeted specific female students starting in 2021. According to witness statements, the suspect engaged in “mentorship” behaviors that included leaving anonymous “locker notes” and gifts for a 14-year-old student who was reportedly being bullied. These interactions escalated to include “love letters” signed “Love Mr. —” and a gifted hooded sweatshirt. Although school authorities and local police were notified in 2022, the school reportedly dismissed the behavior as “normal” and allowed the suspect to remain in his position after an apology.

New complaints surfaced in 2025 involving another student who received “thank you” notes and snacks. Deputies noted a “semi-erased heart” on one letter, which the suspect claimed he did not draw. Victims described the suspect’s behavior as “weird” and “weird with the letters,” noting that he seemed to target students he perceived as the “weakest link,” such as those lacking male role models. The reports also mention a 2024 trip to Hawaii where a student allegedly went on a solo boat ride with the suspect and later described the experience to a friend as the “worst decision” she had ever made.

The documentation highlights significant public frustration with the law enforcement and school district response. In one instance, a victim confronted a deputy, calling him “untrained” and demanding to know who was actually investigating the suspect. The deputy’s narrative states he attempted to offer his business card twenty-nine times during the emotional exchange. Families reported feeling that the school treated them differently after reporting the incidents, effectively protecting the suspect while isolating the complainants.

Ultimately, the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file charges on April 8, 2026, closing the grooming and importuning investigation. The files indicate that while law enforcement was aware of the suspect’s history—including admission to writing “I love you” to a minor—the behavior was consistently framed as misguided kindness rather than criminal grooming. The records reflect a pending status or case closure despite multiple families providing consistent accounts of the suspect providing unmonitored gifts, private transportation, and inappropriate correspondence to students.

The following summary details the final investigative phases of case 2025-27400, conducted by Detective Robert Russell of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. These reports focus on intelligence gathering and witness interviews conducted between January and April 2026.

In late January 2026, Det. Russell coordinated an interview with a former student who had since moved to a community college. During the same period, investigators met with the Put-In-Bay school principal to review internal records. The principal stated that the school had no documentation regarding the initial 2022 incident, noting it occurred prior to his tenure.

On February 3, 2026, Det. Russell interviewed the former student at her college residence. She described her relationship with the suspect as that of a “mentor.” She recalled receiving letters from him following her boyfriend’s suicide in 2022, in which the suspect stated he was proud of her and available for support. She maintained that she did not find the correspondence or his behavior inappropriate.

Regarding the senior trip to Hawaii, the witness stated that nothing out of the ordinary occurred, though she noted the suspect once asked if she wanted to get coffee. While she denied that a fishing trip took place in Hawaii, she admitted to going on numerous solo fishing trips with the suspect on Put-In-Bay. She estimated they went ice fishing three times and spring fishing five times, during which they would listen to music and talk.

The witness confirmed that the suspect signed his notes with either “From Mr. —” or “Love Mr. —.” She also corroborated reports of the suspect providing gifts, noting he would leave dill pickle chips for her and candy canes in students’ lockers during the holidays. She expressed her belief that he provided these items to many students, not just her.

When asked why other complainants might have provided her name to the police, the witness suggested it was because they were aware of her ongoing friendship with the suspect. She confirmed that she remains in contact with him and has never witnessed him acting inappropriately with anyone.

Following these interviews and the intelligence gathering phase, the case was reviewed by the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office. On April 8, 2026, the investigation reached its conclusion when the prosecutor’s office officially declined to file charges.

The final report concludes with the determination that no criminal charges would be pursued regarding the incident. The documentation remains classified as confidential law enforcement investigatory records, summarizing the transition of the case from an active investigation to a closed intelligence file.

The group behind the Step Down Corbin page is not disclosed at the page. There are other Facebook pages that also have weighed in on the various failures in the sheriff’s office, including the ongoing criminal investigation of Sheriff Corbin and why he refused to investigate Amanda Dean’s homicide in 2017. Those other pages also are published anonymously, gaining a strong foothold and a lot of eyeballs in Huron County and across the region.

There’s been speculation inside the sheriff’s office that Corbin is looking for an exit strategy. Corbin refused to comment about that or the criminal investigation of his handling of Amanda Dean’s murder case. He stopped talking to the press three years ago after the Sandusky Register exposed the false narrative Corbo provided for why he refused to investigate Dean’s murder.

The sheriff did comment to a Register reporter recently telling the reporter he could not comment and there are some insiders at the paper he does still talk with. Those conversations are kept off the record, however, and not reported by the Register.

The first post at the new Corbin Step Down page went up at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, we estimate.

The page is seeking public support to pressure Corbin to step down. We’re asking the community:
👉 Do you believe public officials under investigation should step aside while the truth comes out?
👉 Do you feel you’re getting the full story?
👉 What does accountability look like in Huron County?This page was created to share information, ask questions, and make sure these issues don’t get ignored.

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It wasn’t investigated, however, until after StayTunedSandusky.com reported about the family’s complaint on Jan. 8, 2026. It’s unknown why Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick failed to order an investigation previously.

A deputy filed a report in August and sent it to the detective bureau for further instructions, but no instructions were forthcoming. For some families with kids enrolled in the Put-in-Bay Schools, it was obvious to them for a second time that the district favored the janitor and the status quo over protecting girls being targeted by a groomer, they said.

For the sheriff’s office, however, and more specifically, the prosecutor’s office, there simply wasn’t an applicable statute to charge the suspect. Although it could be shown he gave gifts to girls, left them notes that said “I love you,” and left treats in their cars, those incidents occurred in 2021 and 2022. There was no anti-grooming statute in Ohio at the time, and the later incident does not fit the statute: there’s no pattern.

Detectives concluded that the behavior—though deemed “weird” and inappropriate by victims—did not meet the legal threshold for criminal prosecution under the laws that existed at the time of the encounters. The Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file any criminal charges citing a "lack of an applicable statute." Ohio’s anti-grooming law was not in effect when the 2021 and 2022 incidents occurred.

What was learned

After failing to investigate initially, sheriff’s detectives began interviewing students and families in late January and learned about the resentment in the community because the school district failed to take action four years ago, when the behavior was first reported.

That’s according to the sheriff’s report of the investigation, which concluded April 8. StayTunedSandusky.com obtained a copy of the report after making a public records request weeks ago. The report is thorough and professionally presented. It details how detectives quickly learned there had been another complaint about the same employee, in May 2022. That incident was investigated by the school district and the Put-in-Bay police and the janitor was cleared of any wrongdoing. One family member told the detectives the school district told them all school employees “love our students” so there was nothing wrong with putting it on a note to a girl.

The decisions by the school district and police back then planted the seeds of discontent among the families, they told the detectives. It’s made them distrustful, they said.

The girl was about 14 in 2021 when the problem with the school employee started, her mother told the detectives. She detailed a history of targeted attention toward her daughter and reported that the suspect began leaving anonymous “locker notes” and gifts for the girl, who was struggling with being bullied at school.

Growing closer

The situation escalated in May 2022 when the suspect gave the girl a hooded sweatshirt and wrote her a letter containing the phrase “I love you,” the report states. The mother reported this to the Put-In-Bay Police Department and the school principal, but she said felt the subsequent investigation was inadequate. The school allegedly dismissed the behavior as “normal” affection for students, she said, though they eventually required the suspect to apologize and promised to monitor his interactions.

The report lists other concerns that were raised:

• The employee wanted to form “special relationships” and gifted items, such as daily snacks placed in the girl’s car.

• The mother also cited rumors of an out-of-state fishing trip during a seniors school outing where the girl reportedly returned wearing different clothing, the report states.

• The mother was alarmed that the suspect had been placed in charge of her daughter’s school “family” group despite the previous boundary issues.

The daughter was also interviewed and described the suspect’s behavior as “weird,” noting that he decorated her locker and provided hoodies and cupcakes. She stated that while he performed similar gestures for another student with the same birthday, she did not believe he decorated lockers for anyone else in the school.

The ‘Mentor’ defense

When confronted in 2022 about writing “I Love You” to a 14-year-old student, the suspect had a ready-made excuse: he wanted to make her “feel loved” because she was being bullied.

In a world where child safety is the priority, that should have been the end of his access to children. Instead, the system accepted his “regret” as a substitute for accountability. He was “cleared” by school authorities and Put-In-Bay Police.

Erased heart

When the new complaint was filed in August 2025, the family provided the deputy who took the report a “thank you” note on a green sheet of paper the janitor sent to a 17-year-old. At the bottom, a “semi-erased heart” was discovered over his signature.

The heart was drawn with a different pencil than the rest of the letter. The suspect denied drawing it, and despite the 2022 history, the Sheriff’s Office effectively shrugged. The investigation was eventually downgraded from “Grooming” to “Intelligence Gathering,” the reason there was no full investigation until after that until StayTunedSandusky’s Jan. 8 news story.

‘Not with somebody untrained’

By January 2026, the frustration of the families boiled over. When a deputy arrived at a victim’s home to serve unrelated paperwork about a guardianship, he was met with a crying, emotional young woman and a mother who had reached her limit.

The daughter’s question was simple: “Who’s investigating him? I know what he’s done to me.”

The deputy’s response? According to his own report, he offered her his business card 29 times. He documented the mother’s outrage. He recorded the daughter slamming the door in his face after she told him she didn’t want to talk to someone “untrained.” He spent more time documenting how many times he offered a card than he did documenting the victim’s outcry.

Final pass

On April 8, 2026, the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office officially closed the book: No charges. The reports show an investigation that moved in circles. It shows a suspect who was “regretful” when caught, but persistent when ignored. Most importantly, it shows a Sheriff’s Office that seems to believe a stack of business cards is an adequate substitute for a specialized investigation into the grooming of minors.

Looming question

Why was a documented 2022 complaint treated as a “pardon” for future behavior? And why, when a victim is literally crying out for an investigator, does Ottawa County send a deputy who is dismissed by the victim as “untrained”?

If the system’s primary goal is to “refrain from contact” rather than seek justice, then the system isn’t protecting the students. It’s protecting the janitor.

School’s turn to answer

While the Sheriff and Prosecutor have “closed the book,” the questions inside the walls of Put-In-Bay Schools remain open.

A janitor with a history of writing “I love you” to a 14-year-old was later placed in charge of a student “family” group. He allegedly took a student on a solo boat ride during a school trip. He continued to leave notes and treats in lockers and cars.

On Wednesday, Stay Tuned Sandusky filed a formal public records request with Superintendent David Mangas. We are seeking the “missing” 2022 disciplinary files, confirmation of the employee’s current status, and an explanation for why a janitor was granted unmonitored access to students after his behavior was flagged.

Is he still on the payroll? If so, why? If not, what finally forced the school’s hand?

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A/I assistant’s transcription

Below is a transcription summary of an excerpt from the 22-page redacted sheriff’s report filed April 8, 2026, by detectives, related to their interviews with students and families:

The supplemental investigative reports from Ottawa County detail a repetitive pattern of behavior by the suspect, identified by several witnesses as targeting specific female students under the guise of mentorship. One witness noted that while the suspect appeared “amazing” to some, he seemed to specifically target “the weakest link,” such as students lacking a male role model or those who were not socially accepted by their peers. Over a period of several years, this behavior manifested through anonymous notes, snacks, and “love letters” consistently signed “Love Mr. —,” often accompanied by a heart symbol.

Witnesses described a series of escalating interactions, including an incident where the suspect snuck his dog into the school to have private interactions with a student. One victim reported receiving approximately seven to eight notes over a three-year period, noting that every “love note” was accompanied by a treat. In one instance, a brownie was placed in a student’s locker with a note claiming the gesture was out of the “kindness of his heart” after she had initially refused his offer to buy her a treat during a school field trip.

The records further detail a 2024 senior spring break trip to Hawaii, where the suspect reportedly took a student on a “solo boat ride” with just the two of them. Upon returning, the student was reportedly wearing different clothes and later told her best friend that the trip was “the worst decision that she had ever made”. Despite these reports, witnesses expressed deep displeasure with the school’s response, stating that administrators treated the victims differently after they reported the behavior.

Physical evidence mentioned in the narratives includes at least two letters with hearts on them, one of which appeared to have the heart partially erased before being turned over to law enforcement. One student expressed that she now feels “scared” every time she sees the suspect at school. The reports also highlight that the suspect would go out of his way to say “hi” to specific students while not maintaining the same level of friendliness with the general student body.

Families involved in the investigation reported that the school failed to provide assistance and instead seemed to protect the suspect’s reputation. One parent noted that the suspect would make “nice comments” to students to build rapport, causing some to initially defend him by saying “he’s not like that”. However, the investigation remained pending as more victims and witnesses came forward with similar stories of “special relationships” and unmonitored access to minors.

The investigating deputy, Det. Rob Russell, concluded these interviews noting the ongoing nature of the case and the continued dissatisfaction of the public regarding how these incidents were handled by both school officials and initial responding officers. The narratives underscore a systemic failure to recognize these “mentorship” behaviors as potential grooming, even after multiple families raised concerns about inappropriate gifts, private outings, and “love letters” sent to students as young as 14.

The investigative reports from Ottawa County document a persistent pattern of behavior by a school employee, identified as a janitor, who allegedly targeted specific female students starting in 2021. According to witness statements, the suspect engaged in “mentorship” behaviors that included leaving anonymous “locker notes” and gifts for a 14-year-old student who was reportedly being bullied. These interactions escalated to include “love letters” signed “Love Mr. —” and a gifted hooded sweatshirt. Although school authorities and local police were notified in 2022, the school reportedly dismissed the behavior as “normal” and allowed the suspect to remain in his position after an apology.

New complaints surfaced in 2025 involving another student who received “thank you” notes and snacks. Deputies noted a “semi-erased heart” on one letter, which the suspect claimed he did not draw. Victims described the suspect’s behavior as “weird” and “weird with the letters,” noting that he seemed to target students he perceived as the “weakest link,” such as those lacking male role models. The reports also mention a 2024 trip to Hawaii where a student allegedly went on a solo boat ride with the suspect and later described the experience to a friend as the “worst decision” she had ever made.

The documentation highlights significant public frustration with the law enforcement and school district response. In one instance, a victim confronted a deputy, calling him “untrained” and demanding to know who was actually investigating the suspect. The deputy’s narrative states he attempted to offer his business card twenty-nine times during the emotional exchange. Families reported feeling that the school treated them differently after reporting the incidents, effectively protecting the suspect while isolating the complainants.

Ultimately, the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file charges on April 8, 2026, closing the grooming and importuning investigation. The files indicate that while law enforcement was aware of the suspect’s history—including admission to writing “I love you” to a minor—the behavior was consistently framed as misguided kindness rather than criminal grooming. The records reflect a pending status or case closure despite multiple families providing consistent accounts of the suspect providing unmonitored gifts, private transportation, and inappropriate correspondence to students.

The following summary details the final investigative phases of case 2025-27400, conducted by Detective Robert Russell of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. These reports focus on intelligence gathering and witness interviews conducted between January and April 2026.

In late January 2026, Det. Russell coordinated an interview with a former student who had since moved to a community college. During the same period, investigators met with the Put-In-Bay school principal to review internal records. The principal stated that the school had no documentation regarding the initial 2022 incident, noting it occurred prior to his tenure.

On February 3, 2026, Det. Russell interviewed the former student at her college residence. She described her relationship with the suspect as that of a “mentor.” She recalled receiving letters from him following her boyfriend’s suicide in 2022, in which the suspect stated he was proud of her and available for support. She maintained that she did not find the correspondence or his behavior inappropriate.

Regarding the senior trip to Hawaii, the witness stated that nothing out of the ordinary occurred, though she noted the suspect once asked if she wanted to get coffee. While she denied that a fishing trip took place in Hawaii, she admitted to going on numerous solo fishing trips with the suspect on Put-In-Bay. She estimated they went ice fishing three times and spring fishing five times, during which they would listen to music and talk.

The witness confirmed that the suspect signed his notes with either “From Mr. —” or “Love Mr. —.” She also corroborated reports of the suspect providing gifts, noting he would leave dill pickle chips for her and candy canes in students’ lockers during the holidays. She expressed her belief that he provided these items to many students, not just her.

When asked why other complainants might have provided her name to the police, the witness suggested it was because they were aware of her ongoing friendship with the suspect. She confirmed that she remains in contact with him and has never witnessed him acting inappropriately with anyone.

Following these interviews and the intelligence gathering phase, the case was reviewed by the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office. On April 8, 2026, the investigation reached its conclusion when the prosecutor’s office officially declined to file charges.

The final report concludes with the determination that no criminal charges would be pursued regarding the incident. The documentation remains classified as confidential law enforcement investigatory records, summarizing the transition of the case from an active investigation to a closed intelligence file.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Sandusky Post is investigating the incident, which occurred at approximately 4:06 p.m. near the intersection of Perkins Avenue and Bayview Lane.

Chain reaction

The Patrol provided these details about the accident":

• Initial Impact: A Ram 1500, driven by Derek Davies, 40, of Huron, was eastbound when it failed to maintain an assured clear distance ahead.

• The Bus: Davies’ truck struck the rear of a Perkins Schools bus operated by Barbara Richardson, 66, of Huron, who was slowing for stopped traffic.

• Secondary Collisions: The force of the impact pushed the bus into the rear of a Buick Encore driven by Mary Carey, 68, of Huron.

• Final Strike: Carey’s vehicle was then propelled into the back of a second Buick Encore, operated by Janet Wallace, 83, of Sandusky.

Injuries and occupants

The school bus was transporting 52 occupants. While the majority of the students were uninjured, the crash resulted in three hospitalizations:

• Two students suffered minor injuries and were transported via ground ambulance to Firelands Hospital in Sandusky.

• Derek Davies, the driver of the pickup, was also transported to Firelands Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

State troopers confirmed that the incident remains under active investigation.

“The sheriff’s office has had eight years to solve this case and has no new evidence or made any advancements,” Tracy Thom, an advocate for the family of Katelynn Shepard wrote in an email to Sitterly and to state officials. “Sheriff Corbin has a civil lawsuit from the botched Amanda Dean case and he and his office are under criminal investigation.”

Tricia Shepard and Katelynn’s stepfather, Jeff Maletz and their younger daughter Hailey Maletz were at the sheriff’s office on Tuesday for a scheduled appointment with Sheriff Corbin, but he was a no show. A dispatcher said they could not find the sheriff, or Lt. B. Duncan.

Thom told state officials in an email this morning that Corbin lied to Caroline Tokar, Amanda Dean’s mother, for seven years, about the murder of her daughter.

“Tricia Shepard is a grieving mother but she can’t believe a word he says now, Thom wrote. “Clearly, Corbin is compromised and the sheriff’s office is in disarray right now. So much so, they couldn’t even attend the scheduled meeting that THEY set up with us.”

The family grows more concerned that Corbin does not intend to do anything with new evidence he’s been given or ask for any help. The sheriff’s office has not acknowledged the new evidence. It’s not clear if it was logged in or made part of the case file. It’s also not clear that Corbin understands the importance of the new evidence, Thom said. Deputies are just incapable, at this point, to render Katelynn’s family any assistance.

“Tricia Shepard is asking you once again to bring in the BCI,” she told Sitterly and state officials. “Someone please help this mother she’s waited eight years.”

The email was copied to Ohio Attorney General David Yost, assistant AG Daniel Kasaris, BCI Special Agent John Saraya, assistant attorney generals Patricia Stipek and Micah Ault. The AG’s office, much like Corbin’s office, does not necessarily respond to inquiries from the public, however, or fulfill the expectations of a public office reference to its First Amendment obligations.

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The AG’s office is withholding investigatory records from the Amanda Dean murder investigation it conducted that explain why Sheriff Corbin provided a false narrative in his report that Amanda Dean was alive after she was murdered in 2017. Yost refuses to say if the material will be presented to a grand jury, or if charges against Corbin or other sheriff’s office employees or former employees are being considered. It’s been more than three years since state investigators learned about Corbin’s false narrative.

Yost requires staff to maintain a code of silence unless they are given express permission to comment on cases. The Ohio Attorney General’s office is uncooperative with the press and regularly refrains from properly disclosing the public’s business when it is asked to do so. Yost, nor anyone else from his office, has ever answered questions or responded to inquiries about the Amanda Dean case, or the Katelynn Shepard homicide.

It’s unclear if anyone from the sheriff’s office is going to follow up or properly log the evidence in under the case file. Katelynn was killed on July 9, 2018, after the pickup she was in went off the road on County Line Road 187 and burst into flames. Her remains were found in the passenger seat, and crash reconstruction investigators could not determine why the vehicle left the road, or why it caught fire.

There also was no evidence that there had been a driver of the truck when it crashed, and no mechanical malfunctions were found. Although the coroner ruled the death an accident, he and the sheriff’s office provided no evidence it was an accident.

Is Sheriff Corbin doing it again?

Corbin refused to meet with Katelynn’s mother, Tricia Shepard, and her advocate, Tracy Thom, on Tuesday. They scheduled an appointment with the sheriff for 9 a.m., but he was a no show. Corbin has never met with Tricia since her daughter was killed and has never provided her family any update on the investigation. She was at the sheriff’s office accompanied by Katelynn’s stepfather and her younger sister.

Thom said Tricia and her family have no confidence that the sheriff or his detectives are competent enough to continue investigating. The sheriff also is far too compromised, they say, given the state investigation into the false narrative he created after Amanda Dean was killed in 2017. Amanda was already dead, according to prosecutors, when Corbin claimed she was alive and safe but didn’t want to talk to her children, her mother or her sister.

Consistently stubborn

The sheriff stuck with that story until 2023, when public pressure for him to help the Dean family grew and forced him to ask the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to launch an investigation of Amanda’s death. Thom, who triggered the BCI investigation after devising a “proof of life” demand to Corbin that caused him to ask BCI to take over, led a BCI investigator to the witnesses and evidence that got Fred Reer convicted for killing Amanda Dean almost eight years after he did it.

“The sheriff told Amanda Dean’s mother her daughter was alive. He kept telling them that. But she was dead,” Thom said. “How can this mother trust this sheriff. She can’t. She just can’t.”

Corbin is treating Katelynn’s family in the same rude and hostile way he treated the Dean family when he refused to investigate Amanda’s murder. The Dean family has a federal lawsuit pending against Corbin and 10 deputies alleging they denied Amanda Dean her civil rights and failed to arrest Reer when they should have, before he killed Amanda. Corbin and the other defendants are being deposed this spring.

Thom and Tricia both said Corbin should step aside.

They waited for Corbin in the lobby for about an hour. A dispatcher at the sheriff’s office told them she was looking for the sheriff and Lt. Bob Duncan, but could not locate them. Corbin allowed the women to wait in the lobby and never re-contacted them to reschedule. He did later contact a TV Channel 19 reporter making inquiries but he hasn’t responded to the local press.

Corbin told TV Channel 19 News that Katelynn’s case is still open, but he did not say he would turn it over to the BCI. The last time he did that his false narrative about Amanda’s murder was exposed and he could now face criminal charges. He refused to comment on that, on whether he is considering resigning, or about why his office is treating Tricia and her family in such a disrespectful manner.

Corbin and Duncan both also failed to respond to other questions about whether they’ve mishandled this case similarly to how Amanda Dean’s case was botched.

Where is the BCI?

The failure isn’t just local. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is dragging its feet on filing charges against the Sheriff for his handling of these cases.

• Is the state waiting for the federal lawsuit brought by the Dean family to play out?

• Are they protecting a “brother in blue” while families in Huron County bury their daughters?

• How many more “Amandas” and “Katelynns” must there be before the state realizes that a Sheriff who won’t investigate is just as dangerous as the man with the knife?

Editor’s Note: Convicted podcaster Ashli Ford has claimed for weeks that she’s discovered new evidence in the Katelynn Shepard case, although she has not provided that evidence to the sheriff’s office. The evidence turned over Tuesday is unrelated to Ford’s claim, which is not considered credible. Prosecutors say Ford exploits crime victims as clickbait and Tricia has filed a complaint against Ford for allegedly harassing her. Tricia claims Ford is using her daughter’s murder to make money on social media.

As we reported late Monday, the meeting between Sheriff Corbin and the Shepard family was abruptly canceled on Monday. Lt. Rob Duncan delivered the news, citing the family’s refusal to keep the media away from the public lobby as the primary reason for the reversal.

Advocate’s response

In response to the cancellation, Tracy Thom, an advocate working with Tricia Shepard, sent a formal follow-up to the Sheriff’s Office. Her message: A promise to a grieving mother should not be used as a bargaining chip, and constitutional rights are not optional.

Thom was not ambiguous.

“If it is your wish to cancel this meeting, after you’ve already a made a promise to this grieving mother, you may do so by handing her daughter’s s case over to the Ohio BCI. If Tricia Shepard gets proof that this has happened before tomorrow morning, then there would be no reason to meet and discuss the same story and excuses you’ve been telling her for years.”

‘Good Treatment’

The most striking part of the recent exchange was Sheriff’s Lt. Duncan’s question to Tricia: “Haven’t we always been good to you?”

The community now knows the answer to that. “Good treatment” in Huron County has meant a 90-minute wait in a lobby to file a harassment complaint and a traffic stop that ended with a grieving mother in a jail cell. It has meant two years of ignored requests to bring in the BCI—the same agency that had to step in to fix the HCSO’s failures in the Amanda Deanand Regina Hicks cases.

In Her Own Words

Tricia Shepard is no longer waiting for permission to speak. Regarding this cancellation and the department’s refusal to bring in independent oversight, she says:

“I just don’t understand why a sheriff wouldn’t want to find Katelynn’s killer,” she said. “I don’t understand why he wouldn’t want to use every available tool.

The Bottom Line

The Sheriff and his department are currently under criminal investigation by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). While they may find the presence of the press “awkward” or the demand for BCI involvement “uncomfortable,” their discomfort does not override Tricia Shepard’s right to justice, Thom said.

If there is a murderer roaming free because of a botched 2018 investigation, why is the Sheriff more worried about a camera in the lobby than a killer in the county?

We will be there at 9 a.m. We’ll see if the doors are locked.

No ‘press conferences’

Tricia Shepard said she called sheriff’s Lt. Rob Duncan this morning to confirm the time. That’s when she got the bad news. “He told me the Sheriff’s Office is canceling because you (Tricia) turned it into a press conference.”

Shepard said she reminded Duncan that the Sheriff’s Office is a public building.

“We didn’t agree to a press conference,” Duncan reportedly stated—effectively telling a victim that her access to leadership is contingent on her silence.

‘Haven’t we always been good to you?’

The most chilling moment of the call came when Lt. Duncan asked Shepard, “Haven’t we always been good to you?”

The response from Katelynn’s stepdad was immediate: “We haven’t even heard from you in eight years.”

For Tricia, the “good treatment” Duncan referenced is non-existent. She pointed to a pattern of what she describes as systemic harassment and neglect by the HCSO:

• The Traffic Stop: Jeff was driving when deputies pulled him over two years ago, Tricia had an unpaid traffic violation that resulted a bench warrant being issued. “They dragged me out of the car and put me in jail,” she said. How’s that for being good to me?

• The Lobby Wait: On March 10, Tricia was forced to wait in the Sheriff’s lobby for 90 minutes just to file a harassment complaint against Ashli Ford, who’s been posting Tricia’s private text messages as clickbait at Facebook.

• The “Lost” Complaint: After finally filing that complaint, the HCSO neglected to send it properly for review. The matter remains pending today, but the neglect in properly delivering the report has caused a month’s delay in any decision being made.

The Question Remaining

If the HCSO has “nothing to hide,” why are they afraid of a mother holding a press conference in a public lobby?

The Shepard family maintains their original ultimatum: The only acceptable reason to cancel this meeting is proof that Katelynn’s case has been handed over to the Ohio BCI. Without that proof, the HCSO is simply locking the door on a mother who has been waiting eight years for justice.

David M. Clayton, 43, of Bucyrus, was driving a 2014 Harley Davidson Street Glide motorcycle southbound when he failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned, the Patrol said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Clayton was not wearing a helmet at the time the crash occurred, and the crash remains under investigation.

1. The $125,000 “Welcome Home” Discount

The most eye-popping items on the agenda are Items C and D. The City is set to purchase three homes (on Clay, Putnam, and Fourth Streets) for $285,000 each using “Welcome Home Ohio” grant funds.

The Twist: The City will immediately flip those homes to three specific residents for $160,000. That is a $125,000 subsidy per home to jumpstart homeownership in the city. While it’s “cash neutral” for the budget thanks to the grant, it’s a massive investment in individual property titles that residents will likely want to hear more about.

2. The Big Island “Emergency”

Item G reveals a quiet crisis at the Big Island Water Works (BIWW) plant. The City is asking for retroactive approval of $101,476 for emergency intake pumps and piping rentals. When “Emergency” and “Water Intake” appear on the same line with a six-figure price tag, it usually means the city dodged a major service interruption. Expect questions on the current state of our water infrastructure and whether more “emergencies” are lurking under the surface.

3. Making Airbnbs Pay for Their Own Violations

Tired of transient rentals disrupting your neighborhood? Regular Item 2 proposes a change to the Building Code that would allow the City to charge short-term rental owners for the specific costs of delivering violation notices.

It’s a “user-pays” model for enforcement. If you break the rules and the City has to send a notice, you’re footing the bill for the delivery. It’s a small change that signals a tightening grip on the local Airbnb market.

4. The Opioid “Remnant” Check

The City is also moving to join a new settlement with six “remnant” pharmaceutical defendants (Consent Item A). It’s part of the massive legal fallout from the opioid epidemic. While there’s no immediate budget impact, it’s a reminder that the cost of the addiction crisis is still being calculated and collected in Sandusky.

Stay Tuned.

NORWALK — Huron County Prosecutor James Sitterly’s “Library Leak” to a reporter on Thursday wasn’t just gossip. It was a strategic maneuver. When Sitterly privately signals that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will “likely reject” the Katelynn Shepard case, he isn’t predicting rain. He is building the umbrella.

The Trap

The BCI is an invitation-only agency. They do not kick down doors in Huron County unless a local official—the Sheriff, the Prosecutor or police—invites them in. But here is the catch: the BCI is only as good as the file it gets handed. If a Prosecutor sends a “request for assistance” that is thin, biased, or intentionally omits the Highway Patrol’s admission that they “couldn’t explain the fire,” the BCI will look at that file and say, “There’s nothing for us to do here.”

This is the emerging plan based on the “off-record” comments Sitterly made on Thursday during a clandestine meeting with a reporter. StayTunedSandusky learned about the conversation through a third party and confirmed what was said with the reporter, who did not deny the comments attributed to Sitterly.

Sitterly also has not denied he told the reporter to “warn” Tricia Shepard and Tracy Thom that convicted podcaster Ashli Ford might attend Tuesday’s meeting with the sheriff. If Sitterly allowed that to happen, it would likely represent a violation of the state’s Marsy’s Law, a crime victims’ bill of rights. Tricia has a pending complaint against Ford, who she says is exploiting her daughter’s murder as clickbait on social media. Police and prosecutors are required to respect crime victims and protect them while investigations are being conducted and while court cases are being resolved.

Ashli Ford, a podcaster convicted on felony intimidation charges last year for threatening Norwalk city officials, is claiming at social media that she’s discovered new evidence in Katelynn’s case, but she hasn’t turned anything over to police. Sitterly didn’t mention that during his meeting with the reporter, but it’s a common “clickbait” tactic that Ford uses: She doesn’t put up, or shut up. Prosecutors claim she exploits crime victims; Tricia contends “she’s trying to make a buck off my daughter’s murder.” Not following through on claims of new evidence is what Ford does.

Sitterly should have made it clear to Ford when she contacted his office—if she did contact the office—that she was not invited and would be barred from attending. Instead of doing that, he warned Tricia, through the reporter, that Ford might be there. When contacted after StayTunedSandusky learned about his comments, Sitterly declined to say if he intended to protect Tricia from further humiliation by Ford, or if he would bar her from the meeting. Sheriff Todd Corbin did not respond to questions.

A Pattern of Silence

A special prosecutor is expected to make a decision next week whether to charge Ford with telecommunications harassment. Ford posted private Shepard family text messages on Facebook without their permission—among other alleged transgressions against the family—which is a violation under the statute, a legal expert told StayTunedSandusky.com. Ford violated the statute every time she posted a purloined message, he said. Tricia’s private messages and the private messages of other victims are still posted at her Facebook page, according to readers who have access to it. Each such post would be a violation, the expert said. Ford blocks reporters from seeing her social media pages.

The Ohio Attorney General’s office, which was notified of Sitterly’s potential violation of Marsy’s Law, did not respond to questions late last week. It appeared Sitterly intends to deal with Tricia by “asking” the BCI to investigate, but asking it in such a way that the crime lab will say “no” and reject the request. The “I tried” strategy of handing the BCI a folder designed to be rejected is the ultimate “get out of jail free” card for a local official with a bad case on his hands.

The only people who stand ready to stop him from doing that are Tricia and advocate Tracy Thom, and Sitterly won’t give them any guarantee that they will be protected from Ashli Ford showing up on Tuesday.

*
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to state that readers with access to Ford’s Facebook page said Tricia’s private messages are still posted at Ford’s page.

NORWALK — In the world of small-town politics, a “tragic accident” is a convenient label. It closes files, it silences questions, and it allows the powerful to move on. But in the world of investigative forensics, “accident” is a conclusion that must be proven.

In the case of Katelynn Shepard, the evidence doesn’t just fail to support an accident—it actively screams for a second look.

The Million-witness jury

This week, StayTunedSandusky surpassed 1,000,000 monthly views. That isn’t just a number; it is a shift in the local power dynamic. For six years, the Shepard family was told to accept a narrative behind closed doors. Now, those doors have been kicked open by a million people who are asking the same question: If it was an accident, why can’t you explain how it happened?

Accident reconstruction gap

In its narrative report about the accident, Huron County relies on a “done deal” mentality. However, the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s own reconstruction report contains a massive, gaping hole. The experts—the men and women trained to read skid marks and charred metal—were forced to admit three chilling facts:

1. The Origin: They could not explain why or how the vehicle left the roadway in the first place.

2. The Fire: They could not determine the cause of the fire that claimed Katelynn’s life.

3. They could not determine if there was a driver in the vehicle when it went off the road.

When the state’s top experts say “We don’t know,” a Prosecutor shouldn’t be saying “Case closed.”

The “Library Leak” and the BCI

We now know that Prosecutor James Sitterly has been privately signaling that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) might “reject” a new look at this case. He met with a reporter in the county law library on Thursday and suggested — off record — that Katelynn Shepard’s case is going no where.

Why is the lead Prosecutor managing expectations in library whispers instead of demanding that every stone be unturned? If this was an accident, as they claim, they should welcome a BCI review — they should demand it — to prove us all wrong. Instead, we see a frantic attempt to keep the lid on a story that has already gone national.

What Happens Tuesday

With ABC 20/20 and Dateline now monitoring Huron County, the “Old Guard” strategy of ignoring the Shepard family is no longer an option.

On Tuesday, we aren’t just bringing questions; we are bringing a million witnesses. Tricia Shepard is asking for the BCI to step in—not because she wants drama, but because the evidence demands the truth.

Stay Tuned.

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Tricia Shepard and an advocate working with her have demanded that the sheriff’s office turn over the investigation to the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The sheriff and his staff are too compromised because of their failure to properly investigate Amanda Dean’s murder in 2017, Thom and Tricia say, and other operational failures, thefts, domestic violence complaints, at-fault accidents and other problems in the department.

Corbin and deputies also are under investigation for potential criminal wrongdoing for how they handled the Amanda Dean homicide case, which Corbin ignored for almost 6 years.

There’s speculation from inside the sheriff’s office that Corbin is planning an exit, but he’s refused to comment on that, or the ongoing investigation by the state into why he caused the Dean investigation to be delayed.

Kaitlin Shepard, 21, was killed a year after Amanda Dean, in July 2018, when her pickup went off the road and burst into flames. Katelynn’s remains were found in the passenger seat, and investigators never determined who, or if there was a driver when the truck left the road. The sheriff conducted a brief investigation, but never recontacted Katelynn’s family or updated them. A crash reconstruction team determined there were no mechanical problems with the vehicle, no skid marks on the road and no determination why the truck burst into flames.

‘Library leak’

Sitterly met the reporter at the law library in Huron County. He was dressed in “hip” street clothes, the source said, seemingly out of character and styled for a younger person. It was a casual meeting that was out-of-step for how Sitterly runs the prosecutor’s office. Like Corbin, he ignores the press.

Sitterly did not respond to emails and phone messages asking him specifically about each contention the source said about what he told the reporter. When contacted, the reporter did not deny talking with Sitterly in the library or disavow the statements attributed to Sitterly.

Sitterly also did not deny or suggest the information was not accurate.

Sitterly told the reporter he doubted the Shepard case would move forward, suggesting BCI would “likely reject” a request for a new investigation. It’sunknown how he knows that, or why he would ask the reporter to warn Tricia about that instead of speaking with Tricia and Thom himself.

Why would the prosecutor be managing expectations in a library before a state agency has even made a formal ruling?

Sitterly’s suggestion to the reporter that Ashli Ford might be a surprise guest at the sheriff’s office Tuesday, also was not explained by the prosecutor. He was asked why he wanted the reporter to relay the message to Thom and Tricia, which the reporter did. He did not respond.

Thom and Katelynn’s mom are sscheduled to meet with Sheriff Corbin for an update about the investigation of her daughter’s homicide, and her harassment complaint against Ashli Ford.

Sitterly did not mention to the reporter any intention of stopping Ford from attending, which would likely be a violation of Marsy’s Law, the victims’ bill of rights in the state’s constitution. Sitterly was told about those potential violations in the emails we sent to him on Thursday and today and in the telephone messages left for him, but he did not respond. He and the sheriff’s office were asked to confirm they would prevent those violations from happening. They did not respond.

Sitterly also was asked if he intended to talk to Tricia about Ford, who she says exploits her daughter’s tragic death and uses it as clickbait at social media. Ford has posted private text messages from Tricia’s family at Facebook, making claims she’s solved the mystery using recycled old news stories as proof of her detective work. Ford’s been asked repeatedly to provide whatever new evidence she’s gathered to investigators, but she’s failed to follow through, which is her MO.

Sitterly did not respond Thursday or today to written requests or telephone messages left for him asking whether the sheriff’s office was going to assure that Tricia was protected from Ford while her complaint against the convicted podcaster is being reviewed by a special prosecutor,

Stay Tuned.

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The conviction of Fred Reer in January was supposed to be the end of the Amanda Dean story. For county residents, it started off with a fair number of questions, and now there are many more.

How did the Sheriff’s Office miss a murder for nearly a six years? Why was the family told she was “safe” when she was being abused and killed? Who called and told Sheriff Todd Corbin that Amanda was alive when she was already gone, deceased? Are there phone records of that call? When will the investigation files be released? Will Sheriff Corbin face criminal charges? Will others at the sheriffs office?

There are other questions, too, equally as horrible: Did Fred Reer kill again, after he killed Amanda? A county sheriff’s detective in Florida says he’s a primary suspect in the death of a man who was last seen in 2018 with Fred Reer, and never seen again.

Do it again, and again

Now, similar patterns of neglect, abuse and substandard investigation practices are emerging in yet another case file involving the violent death of a young woman: Tricia Shepard, who was just 21. Those mistakes and the long delay starting an investigation of Amanda Dean’s homicide, along with the missteps later, have created a toxic cesspool of distrust among the community in the sheriff’s office overall, and for Corbin particularly.

That cesspool has allowed others — including a misguided podcaster who thinks God sent her here to solve crimes and help others — become a false voice of authority because the sheriff’s office has become a gelding of sorts by the perception it is incompetent.

Ashli Ford’s sidekick, Elsebeth Baumgartner, also a convicted felon, is equally delusional. She was determined by a court to be mentally unstable in 2007, according to court documents, and Ford also was ordered to undergo mental health evaluations after her felony intimidation convictions in May 2025.

But because of all the botched investigations and the silence that meets every question they are asked to answer, Corbin and Prosecutor James Sitterly have been rendered mute and ineffective, so much so that it’s allowed misguided people to think Ashli Ford and Elsebeth Baumgartner make sense.

The mistakes made after the investigation of Katelynn’s death got started could be one reason Sheriff Corbin has avoided talking with Tricia Shepard for eight years, about what happened to Katelynn, how it happened.

Katelynn’s pickup went off the road on County Line 187 in New London and burst into flames. Her remains were found in the passenger seat of the vehicle. There was no evidence that there had been a driver, or that what happened was an accident.

It’s all in how you term it

• The Dismissal: In Amanda’s case, they said she ran away. In Katelynn’s case, they say it was an “accident” with no evidence of that.

• The Roadblock: In Amanda’s case, it took years of public pressure to get BCI involved. In Katelynn’s case, Prosecutor Sitterly is already telling people BCI will “likely reject” it.

ABC 20/20 is watching. A team from NBC’s Dateline also is here, and a million of you are watching right here at StayTunedSandusky.com. The Attorney General is “too busy” to answer, but the national media is finding plenty of time to look at Huron County.

Stay Tuned.

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