John Meehan had been engaging in deceitful behavior towards numerous women until his treacherous actions were brought to an end following a confrontation with his stepdaughter, Terra Newell.

Who was John Meehan ?

Hey there! Let me tell you about John Meehan, a guy who was born on February 3, 1959. He worked as a nurse anesthesiologist, but unfortunately, he also scammed women out of their money by pretending to be in a relationship with them. People called him Dirty John or Filthy John, and he was investigated by the police in Ohio, California, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. He was married twice, but both of his ex-wives have spoken out against him. His first marriage was to Tonia Sells in November 1990, and his second marriage was to Debra Newell in December 2014.

According to Karen Douvillier, the sister of Meehan, he was instructed in the art of manipulation at a very young age. She conveyed to the Los Angeles Times that John believed himself to be intellectually superior to others due to the constant praise he received, but lacked practical judgment. She further stated that he was willing to engage in any means necessary to acquire financial gain. On April 1, 2002, Meehan’s medical license was revoked subsequent to his admission of guilt for the theft of controlled substances in Dayton, Ohio.

In June of the aforementioned year, Meehan received a sentence of six years in prison for the charges of resisting arrest, possession of drugs, and the aforementioned charge. He was released from prison in 2004 after serving 17 months of his sentence. In February 2014, he was incarcerated once again after pleading guilty to stalking a woman in Laguna Beach and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Despite being released from prison that same summer, he continued to have repeated encounters with law enforcement. During the period between his release from prison and his death, he was investigated for six separate cases of stalking and fraud involving six additional women. Meehan was known to find his victims through online dating sites and the local hospitals where he was employed. Law enforcement officials described him as “a treacherous, cunning, and highly manipulative individual who employs fear and intimidation to control and coerce his victims.”

Why was he called Dirty John?

During his time at the University of Dayton, Meehan acquired the nicknames “Dirty John” and “Filthy John”. These monikers were bestowed upon him by his law school peers due to his notorious reputation for engaging in debauchery. According to Meehan’s classmate Kevin Horan, he was known for engaging in scandalous behavior, not limited to interactions with women. Horan expressed his lack of trust in Meehan, stating that he was “rotten from top to bottom”.

What happened to John Meehan?

Hey there! So, on August 20, 2016, something really scary happened to Terra Newell. Her estranged stepfather, John Meehan, followed her and attacked her with a knife outside of her home. But Terra is one tough cookie – she fought back and actually ended up stabbing Meehan multiple times. He had to go to the hospital because of his injuries. Unfortunately, he was declared brain dead a few days later and his family had to make the tough decision to take him off life support. Terra remembers the attack vividly – Meehan was trying to force her into his car, but she fought back with all her might. She even bit him to try and get away. It’s a really scary story, but we’re glad Terra was able to defend herself.

How can I watch Dirty John’s Dateline episode?

The upcoming Dateline episode titled The Women and Dirty John will delve into further details of Meehan’s criminal activities. The program is scheduled to air on September 8, 2023, at 9pm EST on the aforementioned network. Esteemed show anchor Keith Morrison will conduct interviews with Meehan’s ex-wife Debra, her daughters Terra and Jacqueline, as well as law enforcement officials who were involved in several of the conman’s cases. In the event that viewers are unable to watch the initial broadcast, there are alternative streaming options available through Hulu or Peacock. It is noteworthy that the episode was previously aired on January 12, 2018.