Ohio man charged with murdering mother, injuring father: police

An Ohio man is suspected of killing his mother and seriously injuring his father during an argument, authorities said.

Kenneth Mortimer, 40, was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault in connection with the alleged attack on his parents, according to a statement from Green Township, Ohio police.

Just before 4 p.m. on Friday, August 9, officers were called to a Green Township home for a report of a stabbing, police said. When they arrived, officers found two victims with stab wounds.

The suspect’s mother, 75-year-old Barbara Mortimer, was pronounced dead at the scene, while his 75-year-old father, whose name was not released, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, police said.

According to court documents obtained by WCPO-TV, WVTM and The Cincinnati EnquirerInvestigators say an argument between Kenneth and his parents led to the stabbing. His mother told him he couldn’t stay home that night and asked Kenneth’s father to call the mental hospital, the documents say.

Kenneth then allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed his parents, who were sitting on the couch, court documents say. The documents say Barbara ran out of the house, but Kenneth allegedly pulled her back and continued stabbing her before fleeing the scene.

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According to the police statement, Kenneth was later arrested in Cincinnati.

Court documents cited by the media say that Kenneth allegedly confessed to stabbing his parents.

Online jail records show Kenneth is being held on $2 million bail. It is unclear whether he has confessed or hired an attorney to speak on his behalf.