Woman held on $1 million bond in ex-husband’s murder case

Victim’s father looked on as son’s ex-wife arraigned via video link

The father of the victim in Warren County's third fatal case of domestic violence in the past four months looked on Wednesday as his ex-daughter-in-law was ordered to remain in the county jail on $1 million bond.

Mercedes Robb was arraigned on charges of aggravated murder and murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Jason Robb, her ex-husband, on Nov. 3 as he arrived to pick up their children for school.

As he waited for the hearing to begin, Jared Robb said he and his wife, Paulette, had temporary custody of the children, 13 and 6, and considered the implications of his son’s shooting death.

“He was a great kid. It will be a great loss,” Jared Robb said.

The grandparents live across the street and Jared Robb said he was at the scene after Jason Robb was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds, unarmed, with his vehicle still running in the driveway.

Jared Robb said he helped the couple acquire the home.

“He rebuilt it stick by stick,” he said.

Mercedes Robb is charged with planning to kill her ex-husband, while the children slept.

“Hi, I just shot my ex husband. Can someone please come out here please,” she said to a 911 operator. “My kids are sleeping.”

The couple divorced in 2013, but continued to battle over custody.

Last month, Jason Robb sought full custody, claiming she was having mental and drug problems after Lebanon police cleared him of her criminal allegations involving their daughter.

On Wednesday, she said she couldn’t afford a lawyer, claiming $5,000 in the bank and a $140,000 mortgage on the home on Oregonia Road. Magistrate Andrew Hasselbach appointed Andrea Ostrowski to represent her.

"Thank you," she said via a video link from the jail, where she had returned after treatment in a state mental hospital.

If convicted of aggravated murder, and having planned the murder, she faces life in prison.

Hasselbach also set no-contact orders, barring her from seeing the children or grandparents, while the case is pending. She would also be on house arrest, if she made bail.

Jared Robb said he and his wife would continue pursuing full custody of the children.

Jason Robb also is survived by a 12-week-old daughter.

The baby girl’s mother, Amanda Palmgren, told WKRC Channel 12 that she planned to write stories about her father.

“I want her to know how much he loved her,” she said.

Robb was an entrepreneur who had recently begun operating a food truck, “Frankenfries.” They were living in Lebanon.

But Palmgren, a real estate agent in West Chester, said she was drawn to him by how he treated the children from his marriage.

“I got to see him with his kids. He was an awesome father,” she said. ““He taught me how to be a better parent.”

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