CHILLICOTHE - Local officials are pushing back against rumors of police misconduct broadcasted nationally this week through the Spike TV documentary on the local missing women cases.

Chillicothe Police Chief Keith Washburn called the allegations made on "Gone: The Forgotten Women of Ohio" "ludicrous and absurd." Among the allegations - primarily secondhand rumors from unidentified sources - were one detective took women to Detroit and another skimmed money during a drug bust.

"I think people know, at least within the department, if they did these activities, they wouldn't be here," Washburn said.

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In Monday night's episode "Murder by Hot Shot," filmmaker Joe Berlinger noted they could not substantiate the rumors, most of which concerned Detectives Twila Goble and Chip Campbell.

While Washburn acknowledged there have been rumors about Goble and Campbell, nothing has ever surfaced. He also rejected the notion of Goble having taken anyone across state lines to work, saying it would require an operation order and one doesn't exist.

The pair had led the department's drug investigations but were reassigned after Washburn became chief in the spring of 2015.

"It was time to move them out of there because I was going a different direction with drug enforcement," Washburn said, adding the change had nothing to do with rumors or wrongdoing.

With just one episode left, "Gone" has been critical of law enforcement throughout its first seven episodes not only in Chillicothe but also in Columbus and Portsmouth.

Families featured on the show have shared their frustrations with law enforcement not sharing developments on cases and fears they aren't doing everything they can to solve the disappearances and murders of their daughters.

"We cannot let the public know what we know. You simply can't show your hand," Washburn responded.

He reiterated his belief they have done everything they can so far to try to solve the cases and have tapped state and federal resources for help. Among those efforts have been extensive searches in the Bainbridge area on foot, on water, by air, on ATVs, and with dogs, Washburn said.

Ross County Prosecutor Matt Schmidt also dismissed Berlinger's notion he has concerns about the strength of the conviction of Jason McCrary for the murder of Timberly Claytor. Berlinger speculated this could be why his team was issued a subpoena.

"I'm not concerned. I've never expressed concern about the integrity of this conviction," Schmidt said.

The show questions the reliability of a key witness in McCrary's trial, Jessica Lowery, and alleges she was promised help with a custody matter in exchange for her testimony. According to Schmidt, Lowery came forward voluntarily and he had no contact with her until they were preparing for trial.

"My office didn't offer her anything ... She was never given anything," Schmidt said.

The subpoena for the show's records was issued after Berlinger's Radical Media crew had gone to the Gallia County Sheriff's Office and claimed to have evidence the Chillicothe police weren't acting on, Schmidt said. He wanted that information along with any evidence they claimed to have regarding McCrary's guilt.

"If evidence comes forward proving or strongly suggesting (McCrary's innocence), then it needs to go before the court ... I don't want anybody, even Jason McCrary, to sit in prison wrongfully," Schmidt said.

Schmidt and Washburn also rejected the suggestion Ernest "Dollar Bill" Moore, who "Gone" has fingered as a prime suspect in the disappearances and murders of several women, has ever been a confidential informant for Campbell or any local law enforcement.

Moore is serving a 10-year-sentence for his part in torturing a man over a drug debt and also had been sentenced to 13 years on federal drug charges.

"Dollar Bill, ever since he came to Chillicothe, has been a target of many investigations due to his conduct ... I wouldn't even allow him off for a parking ticket," Washburn said.

Schmidt called the idea of Moore as an informant ridiculous, adding he would never have agreed to it. Instead, he knew of Moore as a constant frustration for police because they knew he was a major drug dealer in Chillicothe but had trouble getting evidence to pursue charges.

McCrary, who claimed at trial Moore killed Claytor, had been called to testify against Moore in an attempted murder case but changed his testimony, which was stricken from the record. A jury acquitted Moore of the charge.

"Gone" has one episode left and, based on a description at IMBD, part of the episode will feature Berlinger and crew meeting with the families to share what they've learned.

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