A former judge was arrested in Ohio after allegedly killing his wife in Shaker Heights, fleeing, and crashing into a police cruiser.
Aisha Fraser, 45, was killed on Nov. 17 and her husband Lance Mason, 51, was arrested but hasn’t been charged as of yet, Shaker Heights police said in a statement. Police officials told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer that Mason is suspected of fatally stabbing Fraser.
Mason was previously convicted on charges of domestic violence and attempted assault for attacking Fraser in 2014 and had been released recently after serving time in jail.
Mason was fired by the city of Cleveland after the arrest; he had been part of Mayor Frank Jackson’s administration.
Former Ohio judge who served jail time for beating his wife arrested after she's found dead https://t.co/6XQzQRcRba pic.twitter.com/p69iUNnp4U
— The Hill (@thehill) November 19, 2018
Teacher and Mother
Fraser taught the sixth grade at Woodbury Elementary School before her death.
“Aisha was a devoted mother and a longtime committed teacher to Woodbury students. She touched so many of our children’s lives and will be deeply missed. Her loss is unexpected and the impact of this news on our entire school community is unimaginable and profound,” Shaker Heights District Superintendent Dr. Stephen Wilkins said in a statement.
Staff members trained in grief counseling were being made available to support students and staff.
“Please keep Ms. Fraser’s children and family in your thoughts at this difficult time. We are currently working to find a skilled long-term substitute to teach through the end of the school year,” Wilkins added.
Colleagues, friends, and community members said Fraser was a nice woman and great mother.
“She was a very sweet lady,” Kelli Glass, a former babysitter for the Masons’ two daughters, who are now 11 and 8, told the Plain-Dealer. “She loved her job, she loved her kids. Her girls were her whole life.”
Fundraiser
The Shaker Heights Teachers Association said that it was raising money for Fraser’s two daughters.
The group said it “will collect contributions to support Aisha’s children during this very difficult time” 0n a fundraising page on GoFundMe.
As of Nov. 19, the fundraiser had raised more than $77,000.The goal listed is $100,000.
On the page, a number of former students praised Fraser.
“Ms. Fraser was my sixth grade math teacher who had an impact on my education and I will forever be grateful,” former student Kendall Marbury wrote.
“My heart is aching for the two children that Aisha has left behind. I pray God takes great care of them. My daughter was blessed to have been in Ms Fraser’s 6th grade class and she’s devastated by the news of her passing. She was one of her favorite teachers,” said another commenter, Kuda, on the page.
“She made sure that all of her students felt heard and she was able to create a relationship between all of us,” junior Faith Jalango, another former student, told The Shakerite. “If I was ever having a bad day, she would let me come and eat lunch in her room.”
“She was pretty much a mother to all of us,” said another former student, junior Grace Farrell. “She was really inspiring and really nice to have around. She was like a family member, really.”
A candelight vigil was planned for 5:30 p.m., Monday, at Woodbury Elementary School.