News Man Weekly: Richland County mom fights for public records from son’s fatal crash

MANSFIELD — The 47th episode of the News Man Weekly podcast has dropped.

In this episode of News Man Weekly, host and deputy managing editor Carl Hunnell is joined by Richland County resident Andrea Mauk Akinyemi.

She lost her 18-year-old son, Damon Mauk, in a car accident in 2023, just 20 days after he graduated from Lucas High School and the Pioneer Career & Technology Center.

While grieving for the loss of her son, Akinyemi has also had to wage a legal fight over public records pertaining to the crash and also to regain his personal belongings that were with him in the car when he died.

That legal fight with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Dept. of Public Safety has reached the Ohio Supreme Court.

Akinyemi discusses that battle and also the ways she has worked in the last two years to honor her son and keep his legacy alive.

Hunnell is also joined by Richland Source North County reporter Hayden Gray and Knox Pages reporter Grant Ritchey in discussing Wednesday night’s upcoming event “After the Trail: A Conversation with Matthew Failor;” a recent groundbreaking for a $38 million senior citizen assisted-living facility in Mansfield; and the announced effort by the leader of the Mansfield Chapter of the NAACP to revamp and strengthen the Police Review Commission in the city.
As always, News Man Weekly brings you local news and policy discussions with clarity and purpose, helping you stay informed about the issues shaping your community—and it all pairs perfectly with a cup of great coffee from our friends at Relax, It’s Just Coffee.

Relevant links:

Relevant links:

— https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/04/30/column-allow-me-to-introduce-you-to-iditarod-musher-matthew-failor-on-may-7/

— https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/04/28/every-senior-can-afford-to-live-at-new-38-million-silver-birch-facility-says-ceo/

— https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/04/28/leader-of-the-mansfield-naacp-to-push-for-revamped-stronger-police-review-commission/

Get tickets for Beyond the Trail: A conversation with Iditarod racer Matthew Failor

Damon Mauk Organization

Intro song credit: Smoke And Drink, by Luke Watson.

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Check out other recent News Man Weekly podcasts:

Episode No. 46 — April 29, 2025 — PRIDE Tax and Pothole Haters tax renewals explained

Episode No. 45 — April 22, 2025 — Miss Mansfield Grace Riegel; Faith Life Church; cannabis in Mansfield; and West Park Shopping Center

Episode No. 44 — April 15, 2025 — Mansfield Public Works Director Louis Andres discusses city parks improvements

Episode No. 43 — April 8, 2025 — State Sen. Mark Romanchuk talks state budget and more

Episode No. 42 — April 1, 2025 — The incomparable Mike Clapper, Ideas of March and Mansfield City Schools

Episode No. 41 — March 25, 2025 — Mansfield tax time, Ideas of March and life-saving cops

Episode No. 40 — March 21, 2025 — Catching up with Iditarod 2025 finisher and Mansfield native Matthew Failor

Episode No. 39 — March 18, 2025 — Plans for a new Mansfield Playhouse; Iditarod coverage; and Wingstop coming to Ontario?