An Ohio judge who served 9 months in prison for beating his wife has now been arrested after she was found dead in his driveway.
Former Cuyahoga County common pleas judge Lace Mason was taken into custody last Saturday, according to Cleveland.com.
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Mason’s sister told Shaker Heights Police that her brother was attacking his ex-wife and 6th-grade teacher, Aisha Fraser. Fraser was in Mason’s home with the couple’s 11- and eight-year-old daughters.
“He stabbed her, and he said she’s dead,” Mason’s sister told dispatchers. “There is blood everywhere.”
When officers arrived, Mason attempted to flee in his SUV and hit a patrol car, hospitalizing one officer. Mason escaped and apprehended at a nearby neighbor’s home. Fraser died of apparent stab wounds.
The former judge has a history of domestic violence against his ex-wife. Back in 2014, Mason attacked Aisha during a car ride with their daughters. When she finally escaped, Mason carried on the attack as Aisha laid on the ground. He eventually drove off with their kids, who were four and six years old at the time.
Mason was arrested and charged with felonious assault, domestic violence, kidnapping and endangering children. He was sentenced to two years in prison but only served nine months.
He was disqualified from being a judge and his law license was suspended. Aisha filed for divorce.
Cleveland Mayor, Frank Jackson later hired Mason as a minority business development administrator.
Jackson defended his hiring decision on Monday stating, “We hire many ex-felons and almost all of them turn out well because we have second chance as a part of what we do as a policy in the city of Cleveland. We have some people who have done time and committed some pretty heinous crimes and they have come to work for the city of Cleveland and they have done quite well for us.”
The Shaker Heights Teachers’ Association released a statement on their Facebook page stating:
“We are in deep mourning. Aisha exemplified the best of Shaker Heights Teachers; smart, amazingly caring of her students and her colleagues, active in her profession and in our association. She is loved by many.”
Charges for Aisha’s death are pending.
