Ohio man charged with fatally drugging his wife.

By Alex Schadenberg

Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Jon James Costell

The Marysville Journal-Tribune reported yesterday that Jon James Costell (56) of Milford Center Ohio has been charged with:

one count each of aggravated murder, failing to provide for a functionally impaired person, domestic violence and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of his wife.

The news report indicated that Ohio Medicaid was paying for in-home help for Debra Lynn Costell, who had medical conditions causing paraplegia. The report stated that due to prior domestic violence convitions, authorities were concerned when she Debra died. The report stated that:

Mr. Costell has three prior domestic violence convictions — two in 1998 in the Marysville Municipal Court and a felony conviction in 2002.

Costell was arraigned on Wednesday with a $500,000 bail. The court documents allege that:

over a period of nine months, between January and September 2013, Mr. Costell failed to provide “any treatment, care, goods or service” necessary to the woman’s health. 

The woman died of “an overdose of drugs” according to Union County Prosecutor David Phillips.

The news report states that the prosecutor investigated the possibility of the case being related to a "mercy Killing" or assisted suicide but concluded that there was no evidence connected to this possibility.

This case will likely create significant discussion concerning the issues of euthanasia, assisted suicide and social attitudes towards people with disabilities.