It all started as a house burglary in Reynoldsburg. It lead to missing dogs, a missing police service weapon, several arrests and a Columbus Police Detective implicated in a pattern of sex with minors. It then lead to nothing beyond a handful of juvenile prosecutions. The Free Press, as a matter of policy, does not identify minors or survivors of sex crimes. The Free Press has no problem identifying Detective Sergeant Terry McConnell, who is still the second watch supervisor of the Columbus Police Department's Special Victims Unit.

  Through the acquisition of police reports from the Reynoldsburg Police Department, the story leads to the Columbus Police Internal Affairs division and the Franklin County Prosecutor's office. It then ends abruptly.

  On January 10, 2011, Terry McConnell called the Reynoldsburg police to report a break in. His service weapon, badges, police ID and a host of consumer electronics had been stolen along with his two prize Yorkshire Terriers. McConnell was at fist adamant that the media be contacted to help with the search for his beloved pets. The initial investigation turned up fingerprints that would later lead to arrests and a clear indication that the thieves knew what they were looking for and where to find it. They made off with two laptops, two televisions, two cameras, an external hard drive, a Nintendo WII and a hammer drill along with the police accoutrements and papers.

  The fingerprints led to arrests of juveniles, confessions and the speedy recovery of the beloved pets. The course of the investigations, and the statements of the arrested juveniles told a more detailed story.

  Terry McConnell had previously had sex with at least two of the teenage burglars. Neither of them knew of the sexual relationship until they arrived together at the scene of the crime. In both cases, the sexual relations had occurred at Terry McConnell's home. At least one of the minors had sex with McConnell in the jacuzzi that is kept under his porch.

  While being questioned by Reynoldsburg detectives, McConnell eventually admitted to having been on a dates with at least one of the burglars. A search of cell phone records and McConnell's work computer indicated that he had met both the boys via Facebook and talked with them on BlackGayChat where he used the handles irishfreak69 and irish_ares. Chat logs and witness statements indicate that McConnell had offered both young men money, food, a place to stay and paid at least one of their cell phone bills.

  Except for the prosecution of the minors, the story ends there. At least 54 pages of investigative narrative were generated. McConnell's superior, Lt. Francis, at the Special Victims Unit was involved in the investigation along with several officers specializing in computer forensics from both departments. The matter was referred to the Columbus Police Internal Affairs department and Sergeant Denise Russett was assigned.

  Suddenly the investigative narrative ended. Investigating detectives were contacted by McConnell's attorney, Mark Collins. The case was closed and the property was returned a day later. Although a grand jury summary was written and filed, no charges were brought against McConnell. It is not clear, nor a matter of public record, what the results of the Internal Affairs investigation were. McConnell is still a shift supervisor with the Special Victims Unit, charged with investigating the very crimes he is alleged to have committed. He frequently appears in the media to give comment on high profile cases.

  It is also not clear why neither the Columbus Police nor the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office chose to take no action in this case. It is also not clear why McConnell, who fits the profile of a predator, is still in the same job assignment. He was not transferred and is still in charge of investigating cases very similar to his own.