An Ohio man will spend decades behind bars for his brutal attempt to kill his ex-wife in a vicious attack that began with a baseball bat last summer. Frederick L. Harroff, 66, pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the June 2025 assault, including attempted murder, aggravated arson, felonious assault, kidnapping, and strangulation. On Friday, he was sentenced to a minimum of 39 years in prison by Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam. The sentence could extend to 44 1/2 years depending on further assessments by prison officials.
The Brutal Attack
The attack on Harroff’s ex-wife occurred on June 2, 2025, when the woman was lying in bed late at night. Harroff had earlier taken several pills, left, and then returned with a threat. He began the assault by beating her with a wooden baseball bat, declaring that they both would die. “I have nothing to live for, you’re not going to live either,” the woman recalled him saying. “I’m going to burn this place down and we’re both going to die.”
Despite being severely injured, the woman fought for her life for over an hour, managing to escape through the back door and make her way to a neighbor’s house for safety. When police arrived, they found the woman’s bed soaked in blood, with a bloody rope scattered around. Harroff, meanwhile, had fled the scene and was later found hiding in the woods about 100 yards from the crime scene, covered in blood and burn marks.
Victim’s Testimony and Judge’s Decision
During the sentencing, the victim gave a moving account of the horrors she endured, including Harroff attempting to strangle her with a rope, trying to hogtie her, and setting her home on fire. She described her fight for survival, stating, “An entire hour, I fought for my life.” The woman also testified about the lasting impact of the attack, stating that her life had changed forever that night.
The emotional testimony of the victim led to a sentence far beyond the prosecution’s recommendation of 20 to 25 1/2 years. Judge Washam called Harroff’s actions “truly vicious and horrific” and issued a lengthy prison sentence. “His conduct was truly vicious and horrific,” Washam said in court.
Harroff’s Contrition and the Court’s Consideration
During his allocution, Harroff expressed remorse for his actions, saying, “I never wanted to see her hurt. I take responsibility for everything that happened that night. I don’t remember all that happened. I was not in my right mind.”
The court also took into account Harroff’s military service, his decades of steady employment, his mental health history, including suicide attempts, and his lack of a prior criminal record. However, Judge Washam emphasized that Harroff’s past could not excuse his violent actions. “Unfortunately that changed dramatically on June 2, 2025,” Washam remarked.
The Family’s Strength and Resilience
The victim’s family also spoke during the sentencing hearing. Her niece offered a message of resilience, stating, “He did not win. He did not break her and he did not break us.” Despite the trauma and violence inflicted upon her, the woman’s family expressed their strength and solidarity in the face of the attack.
Harroff’s sentencing marks the end of a long legal process, but it also highlights the resilience of a woman who fought to survive and the determination of her family to stand strong. The sentence serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of violent crime and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
