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Professor Kills Wife Amid Sextortion Plot
3 Nov
Summary
- Ex-professor admits killing wife following online threats.
- Sextortion plot involved demand for $15,000 in gift cards.
- He received a life sentence with parole after 15 years.
James Hill, a retired 77-year-old music professor from Ohio State University, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife. Hill confessed to stabbing his 64-year-old wife, Mary, on November 9, 2025, after receiving threats from a woman he met online. The woman allegedly demanded $15,000 in Apple gift cards and threatened to expose explicit photos he had sent.
Hill told investigators he felt trapped and believed killing his family was the only way out. After stabbing his wife, he attempted to stab the couple's dog, which escaped injured. Hill then inflicted a knife wound upon himself before calling 911. He initially pleaded not guilty but later withdrew his plea, admitting to felony murder and cruelty to a companion animal.
He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 15 years, meaning he could be eligible for release in his early 90s. The tragic events highlight the devastating consequences of online extortion schemes.
