Jason Palmer, 37, is being held on a $10 million bond following charges that he murdered his girlfriend, Rachel Prince, in a brutal domestic violence case that has rocked the community. A judge made the ruling Thursday, just days after Palmer was accused of strangling the 46-year-old woman to death inside their shared apartment.
According to police and court documents, the incident took place on Saturday night. Around 10:30 p.m., witnesses placed both Palmer and Prince outside the apartment, where Prince was found lying on a concrete walkway. Police say Palmer was seen standing over her before dragging her back inside. No one entered or exited the apartment until Palmer left around 7 a.m. the next morning.
The Franklin County Coroner confirmed that Prince died from strangulation, along with blunt force trauma to her head and arms. “I felt like I could breathe,” said Jennifer Belemu, Prince’s sister-in-law. “When I get to go home and tell [her children] that he’s not getting out… they’re going to be really, really relieved.”
Palmer had a documented history of domestic violence involving Prince. In November 2023, he threatened to kill everyone in the house, leaving Prince and her children hiding behind a bed. Officers at the time reported visible red marks on her neck. He was convicted of aggravated menacing and placed on probation with a stay-away order, which Prince later asked to have lifted. That request was denied by the court.
Despite repeated probation violations—including failing to stay in contact with his officer eight times—Palmer’s probation was extended, not revoked. In a prior September 2024 incident, Prince was hospitalized after Palmer allegedly tried to suffocate her three times and kicked her in the head.
Palmer initially faced a third-degree felony charge of strangulation, but prosecutors dropped the charge when he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail but was released immediately due to time served.
“We hear ‘Why didn’t she just leave?’ all the time,” said prosecutor DeGeeter. “If it were as easy to do as it is to ask, people would do it.” Prince’s family is now focused on caring for her children and seeking justice. “Rachel’s bleeding heart on her sleeve got her killed,” Belemu said. “But she birthed a new community—one that’s coming together now.” Palmer’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 25.