Ex-professor 'killed his wife to avoid nudes being released' after extortion scam
An ex-professor has been accused of fatally stabbing his wife, before stabbing himself, due to alleged sextortion threats.
The Upper Arlington Police Division said they responded to a 911 call from the Ohio home of James Stephen Hill on 9 November.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Columbus Dispatch, the 76-year-old told law enforcement that he felt he had no choice but to stab his wife, Mary Kathleen Hill, 64, and then himself, because a woman on a dating app said she would release his nude photos.
Hill said that she threatened to share the naked pictures of him unless he gave her $15,000 in Apple gift cards.
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The former music teacher from Ohio State University said that because he couldn't find any guns in the house, he used a kitchen knife to stab Mrs Hill, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Before Hill called the police at around 2:30pm local time, he deleted all of the photos from his computer before stabbing himself in the chest in an attempt to take his own life.
"Upon arrival, officers located a deceased 64-year-old female inside the home. A 76-year-old male was also found at the scene suffering from injuries," Upper Arlington police said.
"He was transported by the Upper Arlington Fire Division to a local hospital in stable condition.
"The case will be presented to a Franklin County Grand Jury for review, and formal charges are pending indictment."
Documents filed in Franklin County Municipal Court have alleged that Hill killed his wife with 'prior calculation and design'.
"After being unable to locate a firearm within his home, James Stephen Hill obtained a kitchen knife, proceeded into the home office where Mary Kathleen Hill was working and stabbed her once in the center of her chest while standing behind her, causing her death," prosecutors wrote.
A former Ohio State University student told ABC that they were 'shocked' by the news, more so because an alumni music event was due to take place.
"Everyone was shocked. Nobody could have seen this coming," the student, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
"There's no joy in performing knowing this information."
Rachel Wilder has issued a warning after she helped bring forward legislation that led to sextortion becoming a crime in Ohio.
"Know who you're talking to. There's so much crime going on through the internet, and now with AI and everything else that's happening." Wilder said.
"I mean, it's getting more dangerous and more dangerous.
"So, to everybody out there, ages whatever, six to 92, you need to be aware that there are criminals that are targeting you on the internet and they're specifically committing the crime of sextortion."
Anish Vij