An elderly man in Columbus, Ohio, has been charged with premeditated aggravated murder after allegedly killing his wife on Sunday, claiming he was driven to the act by a sextortion threat.
James Hill, 76, of Upper Arlington, told police he felt he had no choice but to stab his wife, Mary Kathleen Hill, 64, and then himself after a woman he met on a dating app threatened to release their nude photos unless he paid her $15,000 in Apple gift cards, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
An arrest affidavit obtained by the outlet states that Hill couldn’t locate any of the guns he had previously hidden in their home, so he used a kitchen knife to stab his wife.
Hill also reportedly attempted to stab the couple’s dog, but it ran away.
Before calling 911 around 2:30 p.m., Hill deleted photos and documents from his computer, then stabbed himself in the chest in an attempt to take his own life, he told police.
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He only provided his address and requested police and emergency medical assistance in his 911 call before hanging up.
His arraignment, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed as he remains hospitalized.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
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