Key Takeaways:
- A judge sentenced Jason Palmer, 38, to life in prison Tuesday for the 2025 killing of Columbus City Schools art teacher Rachel Prince, 46.
- Prince died July 13, 2025, in an apartment in the 5000 block of Cobblestone Drive on the Northwest Side.
- A Franklin County jury found Palmer guilty Sept. 17 of two counts of murder, strangulation and domestic violence.
- Palmer can seek parole after 15 years, according to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.
- Domestic violence victims in Franklin County can call 614-525-3555 or the county hotline at 614-224-4663.
Quick Facts:
What: A judge sentenced Jason Palmer to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Rachel Prince.
Where: Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Columbus; the killing happened in the 5000 block of Cobblestone Drive, Northwest Side
When: Sentenced Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026; Prince died July 13, 2025
Who: Jason Palmer, 38; Rachel Prince, 46; Judge Andria Noble; Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office; Columbus Division of Police
Status: Resolved (sentenced)
Source: NBC4 Columbus; additional details from 10TV and other local reports
What Happened
Columbus police officers responded to an apartment in the 5000 block of Cobblestone Drive on the Northwest Side at about 1:20 p.m. July 13, 2025, on a report of an unresponsive woman. Medics pronounced Rachel Prince, 46, dead at 1:29 p.m., NBC4 Columbus reported. The coroner’s office ruled the cause of death strangulation.
Police arrested Jason Palmer, then 37, on July 15, 2025, and charged him with murder. A Franklin County grand jury later indicted him on two counts of murder, one count of strangulation and one count of domestic violence.
A Franklin County jury found Palmer, now 38, guilty on those charges Sept. 17. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Andria Noble sentenced him Tuesday to life in prison, with parole possible after 15 years, according to the prosecutor’s office.
What Officials Said
The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office said Palmer’s sister and mother found Prince after getting no answer at the door and forcing their way into the apartment. Franklin County Municipal Court records identified Palmer as Prince’s boyfriend.
The prosecutor’s office said domestic violence remains a widespread problem in Columbus and Franklin County. It urged anyone experiencing abuse to seek help.
What This Means for Columbus Residents
The case is closed at the trial level, and Palmer is serving his sentence. Police and prosecutors have not reported any ongoing threat to the public tied to the case.
The verdict follows a July 2025 vigil at Marion-Franklin High School on Columbus’ South Side, where Prince taught art. Court records show Palmer faced two earlier cases involving Prince, and both ended in jail terms and community control. The prosecutor’s office listed local hotlines and advocates for residents who need help.
Background
Prince was in her second year teaching at Marion-Franklin High School, according to 10TV. Her teaching career spanned two decades in Baltimore and Columbus.
Police said Palmer had been charged with domestic violence against Prince twice before. In the November 2023 case, according to court records, Palmer was sentenced to 180 days in jail and two years of community control after some charges were dismissed. In a separate case in late 2024, the strangulation charge was dismissed and Palmer received 180 days in jail and 18 months of community control for aggravated menacing.
After his July 2025 arrest, a Franklin County Municipal Court judge set Palmer’s bond at $10 million.
What To Do
- Call the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office at 614-525-3555 and ask for a victim advocate.
- Call the Franklin County Domestic Violence Hotline at 614-224-4663.
- Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 at any hour.
- Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
A Franklin County judge closed the trial phase of the Rachel Prince case Tuesday with a life sentence for Jason Palmer.