Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers announces charges against Kenneth Mortimer for stabbing his father and mother, causing his mother’s death

Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers announced the indictment of Kenneth

Mortimer (DOB: 03/29/1984) for the August 9th, 2024 stabbing attack that killed his 75-year-old

mother (Barbara Mortimer) and severely injured his 75-year-old father (Thomas Mortimer)

Kenneth Mortimer was indicted for two (2) counts of Aggravated Murder (Special Felony), two

(2) counts of Murder (Special Felony), two (2) counts of Kidnapping (Felony 1), four (4) counts

of Felonious Assault (Felony 2), and one (1) count of Attempted Murder (Felony 1). If convicted

on all charges, he faces the possibility of lifetime imprisonment with no possibility of parole.

On August 9th, 2024 at around 3:57 PM Green Township police officers were dispatched to the

3000 block of Palmhill Lane for a report of a possible stabbing in progress. When police arrived

on scene, they observed a male victim standing and covered in blood and a female victim, also

covered in blood but unresponsive on the floor. Police were advised that the attacker was the son

of the victims and that he had fled in automobile. An all-county broadcast was placed with the

make, model and registration of the vehicle. Cincinnati Police located the defendant, Kenneth

Mortimer, and his vehicle near the Mt. Airy Forest. Mortimer’s clothing, as well as the inside of

his vehicle, were covered in blood. He was placed into custody at that time.

Subsequent investigation revealed that Kenneth Mortimer had been involved in a verbal altercation

with his parents at the house they shared in the afternoon of August 9th, 2024. When the victims

suggested that Kenneth they were planning to call the police or the mental health crisis line due to

his erratic behavior, Kenneth went to the kitchen to retrieve the biggest knife he could find. He

then returned to the living room attack both victims. After stabbing his father multiple times,

Kenneth Mortimer then chased his mother outside and stabbed her repeatedly. He dragged her

body back into the house before fleeing in his automobile. As a result of the stabbings, Thomas

Mortimer was hospitalized with multiple stab wounds. Barabara Mortimer was pronounced dead

a short time later.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers commented, “It is absolutely horrifying to think of

the depravity required to brutally attack both of your parents, killing one and nearly killing the

other. Barbara and Thomas Mortimer were just trying to get their son the help he obviously needed,

and he responded with unimaginable violence. My heart breaks for the rest of the Mortimer family

having to deal with this tragedy.

I want to commend the Green Township Police Department and Paramedics who responded to the

scene so quickly. Their outstanding work prevented two lives from being lost on this day. Were it

not for recent changes to Ohio law, this would have been a case where the death penalty was an

option. We will settle instead for ensuring that Kenneth Mortimer spends the rest of his life behind

bars.”