A 27-year-old man, Chance Donohoe, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday after admitting to the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend, Shannon Hiott, in a case that has shocked the nation. According to a report by Law and Crime on August 8, 2024, Donohoe confessed to stabbing Hiott 30 times and slitting her throat in a savage act he chillingly described as an effort to “speed up the process.”
The tragic events unfolded on August 29, 2023, when Donohoe forcibly entered Hiott’s home on Berkeley Road in Columbus, Ohio. The sudden and violent attack left the 29-year-old woman dead and her family devastated.
During the sentencing, Shannon’s mother, Jamie Hiott, spoke with raw emotion, capturing the horror of that night. “How scared she must have been,” Jamie lamented in court, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch. “You are a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier. You had all that time to change your mind, but you’re a monster.” Her words underscored the deep loss felt by a family grappling with a tragedy that defies comprehension.
Prosecutors detailed how the incident began after Donohoe, enraged by their recent breakup and social media posts, confronted Shannon at her home. Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Dan Lenert explained that Donohoe’s anger over their separation and the sight of another man’s car at her house fueled the vicious attack. “He told the police he slit her throat to speed up the process,” Lenert said. “This was not drugs, this is someone that’s angry.”
The level of violence was staggering, with Hiott suffering 30 stab wounds. After the killing, Donohoe fled to his mother’s home in Powell, where he eventually called 911, confessed, and surrendered to police.
Donohoe’s defense team attempted to present mitigating factors, arguing that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time, impairing his judgment. His lawyer’s sentencing memo highlighted a troubled upbringing and struggles with substance abuse. Donohoe’s mother, Ashley Radca, also expressed her heartbreak in a letter, saying, “I will never fully understand how my son was capable of doing the horrific things he did the night he ended Shannon’s life.”
Shannon Hiott’s life was tragically cut short, leaving her family to mourn and seek justice. Her sister, Lana Hiott, revealed that Shannon had ended the relationship after Donohoe allegedly stole money and prescription medication. A week before her death, Shannon had asked him to move out. In a final Facebook post, Shannon wrote, “I stopped trying to be the catalyst of change in my relationship, and the truth was revealed. I am so much happier than I was a couple weeks ago.” These words now stand as a haunting reminder of a life that sought peace but met with unspeakable violence.
Judge Michael Holbrook sentenced Donohoe to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 31 years.