Ohio Woman Exercises Her Husband to Death

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts)
Feb 18th 2009 6:00PM

Categories: Fitness

If someone goes to the gym with me, they know they can count on me to push them -- I get them to try new exercises, use heavier weights, and go just a little longer on the treadmill. But, of course, if they really want to stop, it's fine with me. However, that wasn't the case for a 41-year-old Ohio woman and her 73-year-old husband.

Christine Newton-John recently pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and faces up to five years in prison for exercising her husband, James Mason, to death in their swimming pool. Surveillance video showed Newton-John preventing Mason from leaving the pool 43 times, and showed him clearly struggling for breath.

There's more to the story than just the one incident, though -- Mason was a friend of Newton-John's family, first getting to know her when she was known as John Vallandingham, before he had gender reassignment surgery in 1993. The couple had only been married since 2006.

No comment has been made regarding motive (though it definitely doesn't sound like an accident), but I think it's safe to say a lot of people are going to be a bit more cautious about how hard they push their spouses and other loved ones in their workouts!

Comments (60)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Healthy Hollywood 2-18-2009 @ 9:12PM

This is a true story??!! Oh my goodness! What happened to a little positive encouragement?! Yikes! :)

doc 2-21-2009 @ 4:34PM

i'd have gotten out of the damn pool anyway, NOBODY tells ME what to do.

Chuck 2-21-2009 @ 5:00PM

And you've never held a job very long, right?

DoAsYoureTold 2-21-2009 @ 5:55PM

This person wasnt telling him what to do.... she physically prevented his departure from the pool. He had over 30 years on her. He was feeble. But as far as someone telling another what to do..... I hope for your sake if that million dollar company of yours is burning to the ground you will do what the nice fireman is TELLING you to do. Too many other examples to mention.

alphama333 2-21-2009 @ 4:46PM

I've heard of being fit and excercising but, to hell with some he/she forcing someone to stay in the pool. No way! No one tells me what to do and I would've gotten out when I wasn't feeling well.

Cindy 2-22-2009 @ 12:32AM

Oh My how awful, however I am curious to know how and why there was a survelliance camera filming and why didn't who ever was filming intercede to help the elderly man, thats such a shame.

LC 2-21-2009 @ 5:07PM

Hmmm, sounds like this would have been a great setup for an "accidental" drowning. Good thing camera was there.

doc 2-21-2009 @ 5:01PM

21-2009 @ 4:58PM

Chuck said...
And you've never held a job very long, right------------i own the company, any other stupid statements?

Chuck 2-21-2009 @ 5:10PM

Obviously don't pay taxes, right, tough guy?

doc 2-21-2009 @ 5:17PM

Chuck said...
Obviously don't pay taxes, right, tough guy?-----------the company i own paid almost $980,000 in federal and state medicare and social security payroll taxes and corperate income taxes last year, as for my personal taxes, i'm quite sure my tax bill was several times more than you make, next stupid question.

chuck 2-21-2009 @ 5:21PM

Would like to talk longer but it not nice to have a battle of withs with an unarmed man. Your mommy is calling - - time for you to do your homework.

jellyfish 2-21-2009 @ 9:36PM

"There's more to the story than just the one incident, though -- Mason was a friend of Newton-John's family, first getting to know her when she was known as John Vallandingham, before he had gender reassignment surgery in 1993. The couple had only been married since 2006."
I fail to see the relevance of this.

doc 2-21-2009 @ 5:26PM

chuck said...
Would like to talk longer but it not nice to have a battle of withs with an unarmed man. Your mommy is calling - - time for you to do your homework.------------------wow, is that all you got? oh.. and its "wits" which i'm quite sure your in short supply of. run along now... the adults are busy.

UncleD 2-21-2009 @ 5:36PM

What is this, the Chuck and Doc hour????

mj 2-21-2009 @ 6:07PM

hahaha made me laugh- good one!

PLNinAK 2-21-2009 @ 5:59PM

lol. Chuck and doc fight like my 4 and 2 yr old daughter.

Sak 2-21-2009 @ 6:08PM

Yeah, it does sound like the Chuck and Doc hour.

doc 2-21-2009 @ 6:05PM

oAsYoureTold said...
This person wasnt telling him what to do.... she physically prevented his departure from the pool. He had over 30 years on her. He was feeble. But as far as someone telling another what to do..... I hope for your sake if that million dollar company of yours is burning to the ground you will do what the nice fireman is TELLING you to do. Too many other examples to mention.------------------let me explain this to you, if anything of mine is on fire, i call the fire department, they come and put the fire out, the nice does not tell me anything, he does his damn job, if i need to talk to anyone, i will talk to the firechief, end of story. i reiterate, no one tells me to do anything, deal with it.

docs conscience 2-21-2009 @ 6:14PM

Actually sounds like 'doc' is a lonely old fart with authority issues. Daddy was a Marine and mom an alcoholic gambler. Now that we have this all figured out lets see how 'doc' comes blazing back with how his wife looks like Barbi and his kids are all PHDs and he is richer than God and has a body like Adonis. Dont forget the Maybach and Ferrari in the drive way 'doc'!! Ready set YOUR turn 'doc'!!!