ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — 11 Investigates has been looking into John McDonald and his business, Brothers All Around, for months now.
The business lists an address on US 30 in North Fayette, but it’s not there anymore. The company’s website is no longer active.
A Google search says Brothers All Around is permanently closed and an attorney representing one of the alleged victims says it’s been very hard to track him down.
Criminal charges have been filed against McDonald and now District Attorney’s from multiple counties are involved.
“I’ve forgiven him personally at this point, but it’s one of those where he needs to understand what he did to everyone,” said Lauren Oesterling.
Lauren Oesterling inherited a home from her great aunt intending to entirely renovate it. John McDonald and his company Brothers All Around took on the job in 2022.
“We liked this one the best because it was a veteran company and with my husband being a vet it was one of those things where we like to help other vets,” said Oesterling.
She shared a video showing the condition in which he left her house.
“He was supposed to fix the window, add siding also put in an exhaust fan in the bathroom because the home was built in 1880,” said Oesterling. “He was also supposed to do brickwork and fixing the foundation, which was never fixed. He just slapped a whole bunch of concrete over it. And he also did do a front porch for us but the front porch that he did was not sustainable. It was only nine inches deep in the ground. It had a lot wrong with it. We ended up having to hire a new contractor to come out and rip that out.”
Oesterling filed a report with the Crescent Police Department. Crescent Police confirmed they’re investigating.
“It’s devastating,” said Oesterling. “It started out as a bad situation, and it just blew up to be a horrible situation.”
Meanwhile, criminal charges have been filed in Moon and Ohio Townships and in Donora, Washington County. The North Fayette Police Department handed over its case to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. And Independence Police turned over a case to the Beaver County DA.
“We’re struggling to fix everything now,” said Byron Oesterling. “Trying to fix the things that he messed up. I can’t imagine what other people are going through that had more done.”
So far, Channel 11 has spoken to six alleged victims. Channel 11 reached out to McDonald to get his side, but we haven’t heard back.
“It’s astronomical, and it’s devastating for each and every family. And I understand their pain and their suffering. And it’s sad that none of us knew about each other sooner.”
“We looked him up online,” said Byron. “Promoted veteran owned. We’re like let’s give the guy a shot. I just hope they take his license so he’s no longer able to be a contractor,” said Byron. “That’s the most I could wish for.”
McDonald has a preliminary hearing for the criminal case filed in Moon Township on Jan. 16.
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