Incident Overview
A former professor from Ohio State University has been charged with murder following the tragic death of his wife. James Hill, 76, appeared in court on Thursday after police reported that he killed his wife amid a sextortion scheme.
Court documents reveal that Hill called 911 on Sunday afternoon after fatally stabbing his wife, Mary Hill, 66, at their home in Columbus.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Mary dead from a single stab wound to the chest. Reports indicate that James also attempted to harm himself and their dog with the same knife but was unsuccessful.
While receiving treatment for his injuries at a hospital, James disclosed to police that he had fallen victim to a sextortion scam. He admitted to sharing explicit photos with a woman he met through an online dating platform. On the day of the incident, she allegedly demanded $15,000 or threatened to publish the photos online.
James told detectives that he felt trapped and believed there was only one way out: killing his wife before taking his own life. Initially searching for a gun hidden by Mary years ago but unable to find it, he resorted to using a knife instead.
Authorities stated that he pretended to give Mary a massage before attacking her when she relaxed. In his final moments with her, James reportedly held her and expressed remorse as she took her last breaths.
After failing in his suicide attempt, James called the police himself. He now faces aggravated murder charges related to Mary Hill’s death.
