Frederick L. Harroff, 66, was sentenced to at least 39 years in prison for attempting to murder his ex-wife with a baseball bat and other violent acts last summer. The Columbiana County judge imposed a term exceeding prosecutors' recommendation after the victim's emotional testimony. The attack occurred on June 2, 2025, in Columbiana, Ohio.
On Friday, Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam sentenced Frederick L. Harroff to a minimum of 39 years in prison, with the possibility of up to 44.5 years. Harroff had pleaded guilty in late March to attempted murder, aggravated arson, felonious assault, kidnapping, and strangulation. Prosecutors sought 20 to 25.5 years, but the judge called Harroff's conduct 'truly vicious and horrific.' The court considered his military service, steady employment history, mental health issues, and lack of prior criminal record before issuing the sentence. 'Unfortunately that changed dramatically on June 2, 2025,' Washam said. The attack began just after 10 p.m. when Harroff, after taking pills, returned to his ex-wife's home and beat her with a wooden baseball bat while she lay in bed. She recalled him saying, 'I have nothing to live for, you're not going to live either. I'm going to burn this place down and we're both going to die.' Harroff then strangled her with his hands and a rope, attempted to hogtie her, and set the house on fire. 'An entire hour, I fought for my life,' the victim testified. Covered in blood and bruises, she escaped through the back door to a neighbor's house. Police found a blood-soaked bed and rope inside, and arrested Harroff, bloodied with burn marks, hiding in woods 100 yards from his trailer on Columbiana-Lisbon Road. During sentencing, the victim described Harroff as 'an evil, cruel, malicious monster' who showed no remorse. Harroff expressed contrition, stating, 'I never wanted to see her hurt. I take responsibility for everything... I was not in my right mind.' Her niece added, 'He did not win. He did not break her and he did not break us.'