Family: 2 women in fatal stabbing often argued

JournalNews exclusive

Hamilton JournalNews reporter Eric Schwartzberg spent several days this week speaking to family and friends of Diana Ross and Dee Dee Jackson to bring you exclusive information about how their argument turned to fatal violence.

The two women involved in a fatal stabbing often found a reason to argue, according to family and friends who spoke with the Hamilton JournalNews. But no one ever imagined the arguments could escalate into violence.

Delores Ann “Dee Dee” Jackson, of Grant Circle in Hamilton, has been charged with homicide in the stabbing death Friday night of Diana Ross, of Cincinnati.

The 72-year-old Jackson and 56-year-old Ross had known each other “their whole lives” and often found a reason to argue, said Dorothy Allen, Ross’ sister, who could not recall what the two were arguing about Friday.

“It just was an argument,” she said. “The stuff that really didn’t amount to nothing.”

Michael Allen, Ross’ brother-in-law, said he was watching TV when the incident occurred.

“They came in here to get me and said ‘They’re about ready to fight outside. Get outside,’ and by the time I got outside, it was over,” he said. “She was on the ground and Dee Dee was walking out the yard.”

At 11:07 p.m. June 14, officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Monument Street in response to the stabbing of Ross.

Police arriving on the scene found Ross unresponsive and suffering from a puncture wound to her upper torso.

Hamilton Fire Department paramedics took Ross to Fort Hamilton Hospital, where she died.

Hamilton Police Chief Scott Scrimizzi said officers went to Jackson’s home immediately after the incident and found her there, but took her to the hospital to have her checked out after she complained of a medical issue.

On Monday afternoon, police said Jackson was undergoing testing in a Cincinnati area hospital. She was released and taken into custody later in the day.

Scrimizzi also said Jackson confessed to police.

Jackson was arraigned Tuesday morning in Hamilton Municipal Court and is being held in the Butler County Jail on a $300,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 26.

Asked to detail the root of the contentious relationship between the two woman, Michael Allen said: “Bottom line, they just didn’t get along.”

“It didn’t have to be nothing special to happen for (an argument) to happen,” he said. They got along once in a while, “but it didn’t last long. Sooner or later there’d be an argument.”

Ross was born in Hamilton and lived in the city until last year, according to Dorothy Allen. She was visiting the Allens when the stabbing occurred.

The Allens said they are relieved that Jackson is behind bars but won’t have full resolution until the case reaches its eventual end.

“I hated that it had to happen,” Dorothy Allen said. “My sister’s gone and she’s (Jackson) facing what she’s facing, but it will be a little bit of closure.”