Injunction Ordering Citizens Not to Mention Coroner in Online Posts (and Barring Them From Possessing Weapons)

From Ohio Court of Appeals Judge Robert Hendrickson's opinion Monday in Ehlers v. Thomas, joined by Judges Stephen Powell and Matthew Byrne:

Ehlers is the director of the Montgomery County Coroner's Office ("MCCO"). In August of 2022, Appellants made public records requests to the MCCO regarding the deaths of, among other individuals, Casey Pitzer and Marvin Napier. Appellants believe those deaths were part of a coverup by the MCCO and other government entities. Pitzer and Napier were autopsied at the MCCO.

Appellants largely communicated with Ehlers via her work email. Over time, the emails sent to Ehlers grew more numerous and confrontational. Some emails contained threats of criminal charges, "legal war," and internet smear campaigns if the records Appellants desired were not turned over to them. However, one email from Petry also contained autopsy photos as well as pictures of Ehlers' family taken from social media. The email asked, "[W]hat if it was your daughter?" The email continued:

If we don't get the records immediately. I'm [sic] putting you and every photo I can find of you all over the internet as one of the MURDER COVER UP doctors * * * Your family will be crushed and embarrassed. * * *

It's not going to be right of you to allow your family to be put out there like that. But the fact is, the more you ignore us, the angrier we get. As any parent would. I hope to hear from you by the end of the day. If not, I'll start sending you the TRUE internet posts I create about you. * * *

Thomas, in turn, stated in one email that because of the alleged actions of Ehlers and others, the entire world, "WILL KNOW WHY PEOPLE BURN OUR FYCKING [sic] CITIES AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT!! THEY'RE LIARS AND AID IN MURDERS." At one point, Thomas attempted to "friend" Ehlers on Facebook and sent her a message which stated, "I see you're a hometown Clinton County Resident!! * * * this could be good or bad. I hope good, I really do, FYI my friend is employed by NCIS. I served with him in the Marines. We will catch Casey's killer!!" The above are just some of the many communications that Appellants sent to Ehlers.