Although this site might not boast centuries of architectural significance, it carries its own unique narrative. Once a busy McDonald’s that shuttered its doors in 2004, which coincidentally marked the 25th anniversary of the iconic Happy Meal, the story with this structure lies in an event that happened 10 years prior to its closure.

The Strip Search Phone Call Scam

During the late 1900s (or the 1990s; I just wanted wanted to make you feel older), something known as the Strip Search Phone Call Scam began happening around the country.

The strip search phone call scam was a series of deceptive incidents that predominantly took place in the quieter, rural regions of the United States. Spanning over a decade from 1994 into the early 2000s, these unsettling events involved an unidentified male who would phone restaurants or grocery stores, posing convincingly as a law enforcement officer. With disturbing precision, he manipulated store managers into performing invasive strip searches on their employees and, in at least two documented instances, even customers. Furthermore, they were instructed to execute other strange and degrading actions in the name of “official police business”. These deceptive calls were particularly targeted at fast-food establishments located in smaller towns.

Across 30 states, over 70 such harrowing calls were recorded. It was a 2004 episode in Mount Washington, Kentucky that led to the apprehension of David Richard Stewart, a Florida resident. Even though evidence like phone cards associated with some of these deceptive calls were retrieved from his home, along with footage showing a man, whom colleagues recognized as Stewart, purchasing those cards, he was surprisingly acquitted of all charges related to the Mount Washington incident. While there were strong suspicions about Stewart’s involvement in similar scam calls, he was never formally charged for any other incidents. Notably, after Stewart’s detention, the twisted scam calls ceased.

The Strip Search Phone Scam Hits Saybrook

One of the many incidents during these years happened right here at a McDonald’s in Saybrook, Ohio.

In the town of Saybrook Township, Ohio, the 1990s witnessed an incident that would be remembered in the town for years to come.

A McDonald’s restaurant in Saybrook, formerly operated by Consolidated, would get some unwanted attention in 1994. Among its young crew members were two minors, both who were about to experience an event that would unfold as part of the strip search phone call scams. Though this is on public record, I have personally decided to keep their names from this article.

On August 4, 1994, the manager, James Turcotte, beckoned each girl into his office. Whispered rumors of a stolen customer’s change purse circulated the premises. With a phone in hand, Turcotte handed it over to the young girls, claiming a sheriff’s deputy was on the line. The voice on the other end made an unsettling demand – for the girls to permit Turcotte to strip-search them.

One girl, perhaps out of fear or confusion, complied. As she disrobed, Turcotte’s hands ventured across various parts of her body in a so-called “search.” The other girl had managed to resist the invasive strip search, yet still allowed a cursory pat-down over her clothing.

The harrowing event led to a lawsuit the following year. A mother of one of the two girls, along with the two, argued that they had suffered immense emotional trauma due to Turcotte’s actions. They claimed Turcotte was acting on behalf of Consolidated, wielding the power vested in him by his managerial position.

While Turcotte confessed to searching the girls, he refuted any claims of inappropriate conduct. According to him, he was collaborating with the Sheriff’s Department in a bid to unmask a potential thief among the staff.

But the legal storm didn’t end there. As 1997 dawned, Consolidated initiated a legal battle against their own insurance provider, Kemper. The restaurant giant argued that Kemper should foot the bill for the lawsuit. Kemper, however, stood firm, asserting that their policy did not cover such an incident.

The courts would be the ultimate arbiter. By September 10, 1998, the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas delivered its verdict. Kemper emerged victorious, as the court decreed that Turcotte’s actions were neither accidental nor a part of his employment duties. Thus, the insurance policy was deemed irrelevant. Interestingly, the original lawsuit filed by the two girls and mother had already been withdrawn on June 5, 1998.

However, Consolidated did not give up. They appealed, claiming errors in the trial court’s judgment. Consolidated believed they were entitled to insurance coverage for false imprisonment. Yet, the appellate court found wisdom in the trial court’s insights. Turcotte’s actions, whether intended to identify a thief or merely satisfy some perverse desire, were not in line with promoting Consolidated’s business interests.

The Year They Stopped Lovin’ It

For ten years following the initial incident, this McDonald’s location would still continue to operate, and was finally closed in 2004 during promotions for the 25-year anniversary of the Happy Meal.

Since then, the McDonald’s has sat largely untouched. Its once bustling interior now lies eerily quiet, echoing only with the memories of its former life. Thick cobwebs drape the corners, connecting seat to seat like intricate lace. Dust layers the booths, dimming their once vibrant colors. The ceiling tiles, floors, and walls display a tapestry of mold and mildew, nature’s cruel artwork over man-made constructs. Strangely enough, the kitchen still smells a bit like your standard McDonald’s kitchen in locations that still operate today, though perhaps with a bit of a musty addition.

Oh, and the ice cream machine is broken.