Michigan man found guilty of brutal stabbing and hammer killing of girlfriend

Jason Ross, 50, of Michigan, was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, Kathleen Hales, after a 10-day trial led by Assistant District Attorneys Elizabeth Abbo and Kelsey Heath.

The murder occurred on July 24, 2021, when Ross brutally stabbed 47-year-old Hales multiple times and beat her with a hammer in her Sterling Heights home.

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After the murder, Ross hid her body and fled the scene with her credit cards, prescription drugs, and her vehicle. He was later arrested in Prescott, Michigan, in possession of one of the murder weapons and the victim's belongings.

Ross was convicted of first-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life in prison without parole, and was also charged with several other counts: burglary of a building (a felony punishable by four years), unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle (a felony punishable by five years), and theft of a currency without consent (a felony punishable by four years).

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“The coroner described the victim's suffering as nothing short of torture. No one should have to endure such a thing, especially at the hands of someone they trust. We are grateful to the jury for delivering justice, and our thoughts are with the victim's family as they continue to struggle with this tragic loss,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.

His sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024, before Macomb County District Court Judge Matthew Sabaugh.

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