ZANESVILLE, OHIO – Kesha S. Kennedy, 34, of Zanesville, pleaded guilty last week to a series of charges stemming from her extensive abuse of emergency services, which spanned multiple counties over several years.
Appearing before Judge Mark C. Fleegle at the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas on July 12, Kennedy admitted guilt to felony disrupting public services, felony making false alarms, and 25 misdemeanor counts of misusing 911 systems. Her sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
Kennedy’s misuse of emergency services dates back to 2020, during which she made nearly 400 calls to 911, primarily for fictitious medical emergencies. These calls not only strained local resources but also resulted in dire consequences, such as delaying responses to genuine emergencies, including cases where lives were at risk.
South Zanesville Fire Department (SZFD), which often responded to Kennedy’s calls, frequently found itself diverted from critical situations to attend to her non-existent emergencies. In one tragic incident, responders were delayed in assisting a person in respiratory distress, who later passed away.
Kennedy’s frequent trips to Genesis Hospital, where medical staff consistently found no signs of actual medical issues, further highlighted the misuse of taxpayer-funded resources. Each ambulance trip and hospital visit was covered by Medicaid, further burdening public finances.
Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor John Litle, handling Kennedy’s case, noted her behavior reflected a “factitious disorder,” a psychiatric condition where individuals feign illness for attention.
Kennedy’s abuse of emergency services was not confined to Muskingum County alone. She has a documented history of similar incidents in counties like Licking, Guernsey, Franklin, and Cuyahoga, with a previous conviction for similar offenses in Licking County in 2023.
Local law enforcement had repeatedly warned Kennedy about the consequences of her misuse of 911 services. Despite these warnings, Kennedy persisted in her behavior, which ultimately led to her arrest following an investigation initiated by South Zanesville Police Chief Mark Ross and Detective Richard Perry of the Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant Prosecutor Litle underscored the need for better monitoring and reporting mechanisms to curb such abuses, emphasizing the urgency to safeguard emergency resources for genuine crises.
For updates on Kennedy’s sentencing and further developments, the public is encouraged to follow official updates from the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas.
