COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--Governor Mike DeWine is calling for the statute of limitations to be lifted in cases of rape and sexual assault, following the release of the report on former Ohio State University athletics physician, Dr. Richard Strauss.
The University brought in an independent investigator to examine allegations made by former students and student-athletes against the Doctor, who died in 2005. The report released Friday shows at least 177 victims were sexually abused from 1979 to 1998.
It adds that administrators had knowledge of the ongoing behavior by Dr. Strauss, but failed to stop it.
"The complaints and reports of this sexual abuse were not reported to higher authorities by the athletic department or Ohio State University's Student Health Center until 1996, more than 15 years after the first reports were in fact received," DeWine said.
Along with the statute of limitations call, DeWine called for the convention of a state panel to examine the report.
DeWine also wants to know when the state medical board knew of the activity, pointing out the report for them was blacked out.
Victims of Dr. Strauss are now in mediation with the university to work on a settlement.