Sextortion Plot Causes Ex Ohio State Professor To Kill His Wife

A former Ohio State University professor, James S. Hill, 76, has been charged with aggravated murder after allegedly stabbing his wife, Mary Hill, during what he described as a massage at their home in Upper Arlington, Ohio. Police say Hill called 911 briefly before confessing that he attacked his wife and then attempted suicide. According to court documents, Hill claimed he was trapped in a sextortion scheme after sharing intimate photos with a woman he met online, who demanded $15,000 and threatened to expose him. He told investigators he believed killing his wife and himself was the “only way out” of the situation.

Mary Hill was pronounced dead at the scene, while James Hill remains hospitalized. The case has drawn attention not only for its shocking nature but also for highlighting the dangers of online exploitation and the devastating consequences it can have when combined with desperation and domestic violence. Hill is scheduled to be arraigned this week.