A 76-year-old man from Ohio stands accused of murdering his wife in a premeditated attack, a tragedy he claims was triggered by a ruthless sextortion scheme originating from a dating application.
The Fatal Demand
According to police reports, James Hill, 76, of Upper Arlington, told investigators that a woman he met on a dating app threatened to release his nude photographs unless he paid her $15,000 in Apple gift cards. Faced with this demand, Hill allegedly felt he had no alternative but to kill his wife, 64-year-old Mary Kathleen Hill.
A Desperate and Violent Act
An arrest affidavit reveals that Hill first tried to locate guns he had hidden in their home but was unsuccessful. He then resorted to using a kitchen knife to stab his wife. The violence reportedly extended to the couple's dog, which Hill attempted to stab before it fled. Before calling emergency services, Hill deleted photos and documents from his computer and then stabbed himself in the chest in a suicide attempt.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
The incident unfolded on Sunday, with Hill placing a 911 call around 2:30 p.m. where he only provided his address before hanging up. He remains hospitalised, leading to the postponement of his arraignment, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, 12 November 2025. He now faces a charge of premeditated aggravated murder.
