Shortly after her disappearance over
four years ago, I made a promise to Kadie and Jeremy Lancaster,
sister-in-law and brother of Megan Lancaster. I told them I would
never give up helping search for the missing woman. It is a promise
that haunts me to this day.
I have been on searches, candlelight
vigils, and many other events held to facilitate bringing Megan home.
I have never seen a family so dedicated to this task. They have been
relentless in their search. Yet, Megan remains missing, and I wish I
could help provide answers for her disappearance. I wish I could
better fulfill my promise.
About a week ago, a segment of Spike
TV's “The Forgotten Women of Ohio” featured Megan and uncovered
information most of the public had never seen. The revealing
investigation poked many accusatory fingers at figures involved in
the dark underbelly of Portsmouth, Ohio. It raised many questions
about who may be responsible for Megan's disappearance, and it
created a beehive of new interest in the case.
I am happy that Spike aired this show –
happy for many reasons.
Megan Lancaster, by all accounts, is a
loving mother and a caring person who, like so many others in the
county, fell victim to the opioid epidemic. She became a drug addict
and turned to prostitution to finance her addiction. In doing so,
Megan became a pawn in this marginalized community. She likely didn't
know how her combination of good looks and drug dependency would lead
to complications with enforcement and criminal elements. We now know
how deep these complications grew.
As members of a community in which the
drug trade devastates lives and families, we all are responsible for
seeking answers to the epidemic of drug abuse. No judgments should
prevent us from this task; it is a basic duty of our humanity and a
fulfillment of our commitment to love and kindness.
But still, some view addicts as
second-class citizens, expendable victims who brought any ill
treatment – including abduction and murder – upon themselves.
Don't you wonder to what great lengths an investigation into the
disappearance of a prominent citizen's addicted daughter might go? I
do. Megan's disappearance deserves unending, thorough investigation,
something many think is lacking.
Still, there is another reason that the
disappearance of Megan Lancaster is critical to the well-being of the
area. Something or some person(s) from within the enforcement and
justice communities has left an indelible stench that permeates the
halls of judicatory integrity. It is a malodor originating somewhere between the
obvious and the guarded. Many area residents have questioned its rank
existence before and wondered why it hasn't been eliminated.
The “use” of Megan Lancaster –
whether as an informant, as a prostitute, as a dancer – must be
further investigated, no matter the collateral damage to those who
employed her services. How can any of us feel transparency is being
pursued when bad behaviors of lustful users are being protected? This
has too long been a policy of Good Old Boy government. Was Megan an
instrument of a system that protects its own at the price of innocent
human life? Suspicions endure, and for good reasons.
I, for one, believe drugs,
prostitution, and human trafficking are married in a large,
coordinated system fueled by financial interest and by personal
gratification. The perfect feeder component of the system includes
officers and employees of enforcement and court communities. I do not
mean to make false accusations against these trusted institutions;
however, I strongly believe existing evidence is sufficient for
strong internal investigation.
A beautiful young woman, sex, drugs,
personal contact lists, informants – clues to the disappearance of
Megan Lancaster, last seen on April 3, 2013. This case is a concern
for everyone in our small community. It may also be a link in a much
larger conspiracy of abuse. Solving the case will give much needed
closure to a wonderful local family. Solving the case may reveal
connections that threaten the future of our closest loved ones. And,
solving the case may save countless lives of those trapped in a
corrupt system of use and abuse.
I haven't given up on you, Megan. I pledge to
keep on keeping on.
2 comments:
This case has DIRTY written all over it, has from the get go. Praying Megan's case breaks her Disappeance & takes all P-Town corrupt ppl down.!!! Prayers for her Family & Friends.��❤������
Mrs. Webb - You hit it right on the head! I'm certain recent law enforcements efforts have been fruitful and tenacious. It's my understanding there are people from the other side of river, Kentucky, who may be involved or may have knowledge of the shenanigans in Portsmouth, including Mearan. If Ohio law enforcement hasn't yet made inquiries in Kentucky, I hope they eventually do. I'd delve deeply in Kentucky counties - Greenup and Boyd.
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