The Robbs divorced in 2013 but continued to battle over custody. He sought full custody of their children, 13 and 6 years old, on Oct. 24.
“My ex-wife’s mental state has steadily declined and I do not believe her household is stable enough to support our children,” he said in a hand-written motion.
A hearing in the case was scheduled for later this month in Warren County Common Pleas Court.
Police said Mercedes Robb called 911 about 6:30 a.m. Thursday to report having shot her ex-husband.
Their two children were at her house at 3112 Oregonia Road, outside Lebanon at the time of the shooting, but were uninjured.
The children did not witness the shooting, according to Lt. John Faine, with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. Childrens Services workers were called to the scene.
Jason Robb was shot multiple times in the yard, and deputies found his body there upon their arrival, Faine said.
He was there to pick up their children — a routine exchange prior to the school day, Faine said.
In the 911 call, Faine said, Mercedes Robb said she shot her ex-husband and that he was not breathing, but declined to attempt to revive him. She agreed to cooperate with the deputies at the scene and was arrested without incident.
Investigators found no wounds on her indicating the shooting was in self-defense, Faine said.
Jason Robb had no weapon and his vehicle was still running in the driveway when deputies arrived, Faine said.
Third case in less than four months
This is the third fatal incident of domestic violence since July in Warren County.
In September, David Garrett, shot and killed his ex-wife, Traci Fletcher-Garrett, in the yard of her home at the end of a long driveway in Hamilton Twp. next to Little Miami High School, then fatally shot himself, according to police. There were children in the house at the time.
In July, Eric Walker shot dead his wife Lauren Walker and himself and wounded her brother in their driveway in Clearcreek Twp., just outside Springboro city limits. Eric Walker had just learned she planned to leave him and take their children, according to authorities.
Traci Fletcher-Garrett and Lauren Walker were profiled in a recent domestic violence awareness exhibit in Warren County.
More on Jason and Mercedes Robb
In August, Jason Robb and Amanda Palmgren, whom he had apparently been with since 2013, announced the birth of a baby daughter on Facebook.
He owned a homein Lebanon. He lived with Palmgren, described by family members as his fiance, at another residence in Lebanon. Family members were gathered thereThursday.
“I have no words to express the despair myself and our families are feeling. I’ve never loved a man more than I loved Jason. He was a wonderful partner and father, and truly was my best friend. I am completely broken,” Palmgren wrote in a Facebook post.
Robb, who was from Hollywood, Fla., was involved in a food truck venture, Frankenfries.
“All events are cancelled until further notice. We are not taking reservations at this time either,” according to a post on the company’s Facebook page. “Details will follow.”
He also was self-employed in a fabricating business, according to court records.
Robb and the former Mercedes Summer Spring were married by then-Warren County Judge Dallas Powers on Sept. 11, 2003, according to probate court records.
Court records also indicate she served four years in the U.S. Air Force, and was working for a dental office.
She owned the home on Oregonia Road, where she and the children were living and the shooting occurred , according to property records.
What’s next in case
Mercedes Robb was arraigned Thursday via a video link with the jail and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing at 3 p.m. Thursday in Lebanon Municipal Court to determine if the case should be bound over to a grand jury.
WHIO-TV Reporter John Bedell contributed to this report.
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