An Ohio judge’s voice broke as she sentenced a man who killed his girlfriend 32 days after his release from jail for abusing her

Jason Palmer was sentenced to prison after a jury convicted him of murdering his girlfriend, 46-year-old Rachel Prince. The sentencing hearing took place in Ohio, where Judge Andria Noble addressed the 38-year-old defendant regarding the gravity of his crimes and his history of violence against the victim.

As reported by Court TV, the court proceedings highlighted a disturbing timeline of events. Rachel Prince was killed just 32 days after Palmer was released from jail for a previous assault on her. Judge Noble spoke directly to Palmer, noting that she would have issued consecutive sentences if the charges had not merged under Ohio law.

The evidence presented during the trial provided a grim look at the final moments of the victim. On July 13, 2025, police reportedly discovered Rachel Prince dead inside her home. Surveillance footage captured the night before showed Palmer standing over the victim on a concrete walkway. 

He reportedly dragged her body inside the residence 

Judge Noble described the footage during the sentencing, stating, “When I watched this case, I saw you very clearly moving a dead body, trying to get rid of it.” She described him carrying or dragging her inside the residence.

Family members of the victim were present to share their thoughts and demand the maximum possible sentence. Her aunt, Anghard Stock, emphasized the tragic reality of the situation during her statement. “Rachel was killed only 32 days after the defendant was released from jail for abusing her. The violence was extreme in Rachel’s death,” Stock said.

The victim’s brother, Kevin Wheeler, also delivered a powerful statement to the court. He described the impact of the trial evidence and the deep pain caused by the loss of his sister. “I tried to put myself into the shoes of Rachel during her final moments. The trial for her murder and the pictures painted through evidence, images, and detailed testimony make this sickening, but easy.” 

He continued, “The terror, anguish, and pain that she experienced before she was robbed of her life by a wretched human is heart-wrenching to envision. A real-life monster, wearing the skin of a man as a disguise, destroyed something beautiful in 2025.” 

He further characterized Palmer by stating, “Jason Palmer is a retaliatory, vindictive, and evil human who is not deserving to walk freely in any community. He is a barbaric monster who has consumed the happiness of those around him and destroyed life.”

Judge Noble reportedly became visibly emotional as she addressed the defendant, reflecting on the repetitive nature of the abuse. “It’s heartbreaking that we’re here. It’s heartbreaking that you had assaulted her in the past, got out of jail, and 32 days later you did it again,” she said.