MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Now that former Marion City Councilman Ayers Ratliff has the legal process behind him, Marion County Now wanted to know what lies ahead for Ratliff and his family.
The case against Ratliff that turned into what he calls a “political witch hunt”, spanned over two years with grand jury indictments being dismissed only to be recharged. The experience kept Ratliff separated from his family much of the time while he rode a roller coaster of emotional devastation, job loss, political retreat, and fear of losing his freedom.
Throughout the trial process, Marion Prosecutor Ray Grogan showed no signs of retreat; telling media sources he “would do it all again”. In fact, Grogan is set to attempt to prosecute Heidi Ratliff keeping the emotional torture fresh for both the Ratliff family and their legal representatives; the Ratliff Law Offices.
Ayers Ratliff agreed to share with our readers how he and his family are doing during this pause in prosecution.
Ratliff says he will have more to say, noting that he will answer further questions in the future, saying: “It is hard to focus on our future when Grogan’s attack on my family and me is not over.”
When asked what the most challenging part of the process was, Ayers told us:
“The most challenging part of this process has been to not only feel the pressure of the system collapsing down on me, but watching the pressure and heartbreak felt by my loved ones. When “the system” decides it is coming down on someone it has a way of doing it to where you feel overwhelmed and completely disadvantaged to fend it off. Marion’s judicial system drains you mentally, emotionally and financially. Our government was designed to be the best on the planet and we are lucky to live under such a wonderful system, but it is also a fragile system. When an unethical prosecutor, like Ray Grogan here in Marion County, is the driving force behind the justice system, the entire system becomes a farce and a sham and does not work. People cannot accept their judicial system being used as a personal arsenal for our unethical and nasty prosecutor, because if Ray Grogan does not like you or if he thinks that he can use charges against you to garner political attention for himself, then nobody is safe.”
Undoubtedly, when asked about who were his biggest supporters, he was clear:
“My biggest support has been my family and close friends. I also started this journey with individuals that I did not consider as close friends, but their love and unwavering support has made me consider them as family too.”
When asked about his primary focus now that the legal process is behind him; he spoke about what his wife, Heidi Ratliff is facing later this month:
My primary focus is now my wife’s case. Although I survived Ray Grogan’s prosecutorial onslaught, he is now charging with both barrels aimed at my wife. When he answered my civil lawsuit with reindicting me, Grogan also indicted my wife. Her charges are completely fabricated in Grogan’s delusional mind and he continues his malicious prosecution now against my wife.
“I am most looking forward to my wife being found innocent and further exposing Ray Grogan for the selfish, unempathetic, cruel, deceitful, vindictive and untrustworthy persecutor that he is. I have faith and trust in the people of Marion and they will not tolerate him placing the finances of the county in grave danger over and over again through his incompetence and intentional misuse of our justice system.”
It is hard to comprehend everything the Ratliff family have been through. When asked what he wanted people to understand about what he has been through, Ratliff shared some deeply personal observations:
“I am completely and totally wiped out financially. This needless and malicious prosecution has cost me over a half-million dollars with my bond, legal expenses, and lost income. In addition, I would venture to say that Grogan has already spent tens of thousands of tax dollars attempting to take my freedom in his personal games. By the time he is done with my wife’s sham trial I would say that about a million dollars will be wasted between me and the taxpayers of Marion, all for Grogan’s games.
Even though I have been unanimously found to be innocent by 12 out of 12 people on the jury, my journey continues and I am unable to even think about starting to rebuild my family’s lives because Grogan continues to pour pressure with bogus charges against my wife, Heidi.
Once Heidi’s case is over, we will be able to face Grogan and others in Federal Court in Toledo, Ohio. Mark my words, I have a lot of evidence of prosecutorial wrongdoing to show when Grogan and others face the bar of justice in Federal Court.” Ratliff concluded.
Accusations, once made, take on a life of their own. While the legal process is alive and well, the Ratliffs are surrounded by a kind of mental, reputational, and financial damage that is not easily and may never be overcome.
Marion County Now will continue to follow the Heidi Ratliff case and proceedings in Federal Court.