A former Ohio State University professor charged with murder appeared in court Thursday after police said he killed his wife when the suspect found out he was duped in a “sextortion” scheme.
Court documents said James Hill, 76, called 911 Sunday afternoon after he stabbed his wife to death in their Columbus home.
Officers arrived to find 66-year-old Mary Hill dead from a single knife wound to the chest, the filing said. Mr. Hill also tried to kill himself and his dog with the same weapon, but failed in both attempts.
The suspect was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries when he told police about the sextortion scam, according to court documents.
Mr. Hill said he had shared nude photos with a woman he met on an online dating site. On the morning his wife was killed, the filing said, the supposed woman demanded $15,000 or she would post the photo on the internet.
The suspect told detectives that he “could only think of one way out,” and decided to kill his wife and then take his own life.
Court documents said Mr. Hill originally searched for his gun, which his wife had hidden years earlier, but couldn’t find where she had stashed it.
Instead, authorities said he grabbed a knife and began massaging his wife’s shoulders as a cover. Once she started to relax, he impaled her in the chest.
Mr. Hill said he held his wife and apologized to her as she took her last breaths.
He called police shortly after he failed to kill himself. Mr. Hill faces aggravated murder charges in connection to Mary Hill’s slaying.
