Authorities in Ohio allege that a man murdered his girlfriend, a beloved teacher and mother of two young children, in a chilling case of domestic violence.
Jason Palmer, 37, has been charged with murder, according to Franklin County court documents. His bond amount has been set at $10 million.
Rachel Prince, 46, was discovered dead in her Columbus, Ohio, home on Sunday, July 13, at approximately 1:20 p.m., when Columbus police officers arrived on the 5000 block of Cobblestone Drive in response to a “unknown complaint.” They discovered an unresponsive person at the residence, who was later identified as Prince. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Palmer was arrested, questioned, and charged with murder two days later.The night before Prince’s body was discovered appeared to provide the necessary evidence for his arrest.
Investigators determined Palmer and Prince were outside their apartment on Saturday, July 12, around 10:30 p.m. According to the charging documents reviewed by ABC affiliate WSYX, Prince was lying on the concrete walkway while Palmer stood over her. He then allegedly “carried/dragged” her in.
Investigators also stated that no one else entered or exited the apartment until the suspect left the following morning at 7 a.m. Prince died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to her head and arms.
A search for Palmer’s name in previous Franklin County court records reveals a history of other violent crimes. In November 2023, he was charged with domestic violence, specifically causing physical harm. The charge was dismissed, but he did plead guilty to aggravated menacing.
The domestic violence charge was filed after Palmer allegedly threatened to kill everyone in Prince’s home, forcing the mother and her two children to hide behind a bed, according to additional documents obtained by WSYX. Police are also said to have discovered red marks around Prince’s entire neck.
Palmer was charged again in September of last year, this time with strangulation, which carries a significant risk of serious physical harm. The charge was also eventually dropped, allegedly because he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail but was released due to time served for the crime.
Prince’s loved ones and domestic violence prevention advocates see her case as evidence that the system needs to be fixed.
“I was in an emergency room with Rachel in December,” Jennifer Belemu, Prince’s sister-in-law, told WSYX. “I was at court. I sent letters to the judge. I did everything. We need to change the system.
She stated that if Palmer had not been released from jail, Prince would not have died.
“This could have been prevented had they kept him in jail in February instead of letting him out,” Belemu told the newspaper. “We wouldn’t even be having this conversation.”
Robert Prince, Prince’s ex-husband and father of her two children, ages 9 and 11, remembered her as an influential mother and lamented the fact that they would now have to grow up without her.
“Everybody acts like it’s moral, and then it works, and everyone turns their heads when it doesn’t,” Robert Prince said, referring to the legal system. “Now it’s affected my children like this.”
In response to Rachel Prince’s death, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein wrote on social media, “Domestic violence survivors should know where to access support before it’s too late.”
Rachel Prince’s GoFundMe page stated that she had been an art teacher for at least ten years. She was “the embodiment of kindness and compassion,” and will be remembered for her “dedication to spreading love and warmth through art.”
Palmer’s preliminary hearing in court is set for Friday, July 25.
