His ex-wife was murdered. Now UK professor hopes her death can change Kentucky laws

A University of Kentucky family sciences professor whose ex-wife was murdered continues to seek justice for her in the courtroom, and most recently, in the state legislature.

Jason Hans was previously married to Ella Jackson, a 48-year-old Richmond mother who was killed in October 2019, allegedly by her husband at the time, former Eastern Kentucky University professor, Glenn Jackson.

Hans and his wife share custody of Ella and Glenn’s 10-year-old child. The child was placed in Hans’ care in April 2020, just after Glenn Jackson was arrested and charged with murder, abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering.

Over the past four years, Hans has grown accustomed to advocating for justice in the Kentucky legal system, but now is working on three bills that he says would be a “modest but meaningful change to Kentucky law.”

Some of these changes would include allowing a domestic violence victim’s name to be changed if their death is a result of their partner and changing the inheritance tax rules for foster children.

“This change doesn’t make a difference to very many people, but it makes a meaningful difference to the people it does affect,” he said.

Three bills Hans hopes will change state laws

House Bill 643 would allow families of murdered domestic violence victims to change names posthumously if the name is the result of marriage to a person arrested for or charged with committing murder of their partner.

“Victims are routinely referred to by the family name of their abusers and murderers in media reports and in court, which is an insult to their identity independent of the husband who murdered them, and that ongoing branding inflicts further emotional harm on surviving friends and family members,” Hans said in an email to the Herald-Leader.

The second bill, H.B. 633, would allow the deceased parent’s name to remain on a child’s birth certificate.

H.B. 633 would allow both the names of adopted parents and biological parents to appear on a new birth certificate issued upon adoption if one or both of the birth parents are dead and it is requested by the court, adopted parents, or adopted child.

In other words, when an adoption happens due to the death of a parent, the parent’s name can remain on the child’s birth certificate. Names would be removed if the child was taken from the parents for neglect, or if the birth parents had terminated their rights.

“The forced removal of a mother’s name from her child’s birth certificate solely because she was murdered is completely unnecessary and insulting to her legacy as a mother,” Hans said.

Finally, the third bill, H.B. 785, would attempt to eliminate the inheritance tax on foster children. According to Hans, Kentucky is one of five states with an inheritance tax. Close family members — parents, surviving spouse, siblings, children by blood or adoption and stepchildren — are exempt from the tax, but foster children are not.

If Hans were to pass away before an adoption can be finalized, his son would receive benefits that had been taxed.

Adoption of foster children is often delayed for years due to a variety of issues beyond the foster child and foster parents’ control. H.B. 785 would include foster children with other immediate family members as Class A beneficiaries.

An example, Hans said, would be when underfunded state forensics labs delay criminal legal proceedings against birth parents for years, consequently delaying adoption for years. This is what Hans has been through, as he is not able to fully adopt Ella Jackson’s son until Glenn Jackson’s criminal case is closed.

A big delay in the Jackson case is due to the substantial amounts of discovery state prosecutors have to turn over to the defense over the course of four years. The evidence has been backed up in state laboratory testing for years, which in turn has slowed the criminal proceedings.

“With the delays being due to state priorities, resources and whatever, I don’t think the state should benefit by taking money out of the pocket of a foster child named as a beneficiary just because the state drug their feet and the adoption took years,” Hans said.

The bills are sponsored by Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Fayette. All three bills were introduced in chambers on February 26. Palumbo told the Herald-Leader that while the bills are just common sense to pass, she doesn’t think they will because of the GOP majority and timing of the filing.

“They’re good pieces of legislation,” she said. “So often things are overlooked and I never would’ve thought of these things if I had not heard from Mr. Hans, so appreciate him bringing these to my attention.”

Hans and Palumbo encourage citizens to call their representative to express support for the bills.

Ella’s legacy: ‘That is my responsibility.’

While Hans recognizes that his unwavering support of his ex-wife isn’t common among divorced couples, he said Ella has remained dear to him.

Not only is he advocating for Ella, but he is advocating for those who don’t have a voice: domestic violence victims, foster children, and Ella’s family.

Her family resides in parts of Russia and Ukraine, and they do not speak English. They have kept in contact with Hans and frequently ask for updates in their daughter’s case.

“She has a family who loves her and is distraught about what is happening and not happening,” Hans said. “They don’t have a voice for themselves. If they were here, they would be doing the stuff that I am doing.

“Her legacy and advocacy, that is my responsibility given the circumstances,” he said.

Where the Glenn Jackson case stands

Hans and Ella Jackson remained in contact after their divorce, and Ella allegedly told Hans prior to her death that she feared for her life.

Hans reported Ella Jackson missing in October 2019 when he could no longer reach her. It was later found she had left behind her phone, wallet and then 5-year-old son who she had never spent a night away from before.

Richmond police discovered Ella Jackson met with a domestic violence advocate a few days before her disappearance and had spoken with a divorce attorney, according to police.

A significant amount of Ella Jackson’s blood was located in the trunk of Glenn Jackson’s vehicle and resulted in his arrest. A week later, Ella Jackson’s body was found in Pulaski County — which neighbors a county where Glenn Jackson owned property — along with women’s clothing strewn around, according to Richmond police.

Jackson was briefly incarcerated after his arrest in April 2020, but was released on bond several months later. He has been on home incarceration ever since at the Richmond home he and Ella Jackson once shared.

His case has continued to be delayed due to large batches of discovery that were still waiting to be tested and turned over to his defense attorney, Thomas Lyons.

Jackson’s trial is scheduled to take place in August 2024.