GREEN TOWNSHIP, OH – A Green Township man will spend at least 45 years behind bars following the stabbing death of his mother and the wounding of his father in what authorities described as a domestic dispute that escalated into violence.

Kenneth Mortimer, 41, received his sentence Friday in Hamilton County court after admitting to involuntary manslaughter, attempted murder, kidnapping, and felonious assault. The charges stem from an incident in August 2024 that left his mother, Barbara Mortimer, 75, dead and his father with critical injuries.

The attack unfolded around 4 p.m. on August 9, when Mortimer visited his parents’ house on Palmhill Lane. According to investigators, Mortimer became upset after being told he could not spend the night at the home. The disagreement quickly intensified, with his mother urging her husband to contact psychiatric services due to their son’s unpredictable behavior, court documents said.

Moments later, Mortimer went to the kitchen, reportedly retrieved a large knife, and returned to confront his parents, who were seated together. Authorities said he then began stabbing both. Barbara Mortimer managed to flee outside, but her son pursued her and forced her back into the house, where she was stabbed multiple times.

Mortimer left the scene in his vehicle. Responding officers found both victims at the residence; Barbara Mortimer was declared dead at the scene, while her husband was discovered standing and covered in blood, suffering from serious but non-fatal wounds.

Investigators quickly identified Mortimer as the primary suspect. He was located a short time later in Cincinnati, with police noting blood on his clothing and inside his vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident.

While in police custody, Mortimer confessed to attacking both his parents, according to court records. The case shocked the Green Township community and left the broader Mortimer family grappling with loss and trauma.

During sentencing, family members shared emotional statements with the court, describing how the violence upended their lives and left deep scars. One relative told the judge that the incident not only shattered her sense of safety but also forever changed her trust in others.

For his crimes, Mortimer avoided a trial on aggravated murder charges by entering guilty pleas to the lesser offenses. In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, he faces a future parole review after serving at least 45 years, though prosecutors said release is unlikely given the severity of the crime.

Barbara Mortimer’s husband, also 75 at the time, survived the attack but continues to recover from his extensive injuries.

Mortimer had been held in Hamilton County custody since his arrest under a $2 million cash bond. His sentencing brings closure to the formal court process, but the emotional aftermath remains for the surviving family members and the local community.