Lance Mason Pleads Guilty To Murder Of Aisha Fraser

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — Former judge Lance Mason pleaded guilty on Tuesday to murdering his ex-wife Aisha Fraser. He faces the possibility of life in prison without parole.

"I wish to take responsibility for the crimes I've committed," Mason said in court on Tuesday. "My decision was to not go to trial and to admit my guilt." The former Cuyahoga County judge is accused of stabbing Fraser to death in November 2018.

The indictment against Mason said he stabbed his ex-wife after they arrived at a home on Chagrin Boulevard in Shaker Heights. He then took Fraser's car and rammed a police cruiser, hurting one officer, the indictment said.

“Lance Mason was on a mission the morning of November 17, 2018. He was of the singular thought to end the victim’s life. Not even the presence of his children would deter him from this barbaric and gruesome attack,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. “This case illustrates that domestic violence cuts across all socioeconomic lines.”

A grand jury handed down a six-count indictment against Mason in December, with charges for aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, violating a protection order and grand theft. Mason pleaded guilty to all charges.

Mason said he did not want to prolong the trial procedures and he wanted to keep his children out of the spotlight.

Fraser was a teacher at Woodbury Elementary in Shaker Heights. Her death prompted the introduction of Aisha's Law in the Ohio Congress. The bill would take steps to better protect victims of domestic violence, including requirements for law enforcement to monitor perpetrators more thoroughly, expand the types of evidence allowed in domestic violence cases and more.