A 59-year-old Ohio man has been convicted of killing his longtime girlfriend during an argument at their home. Prosecutors said the man strangled the victim with his forearm before fleeing the state with stolen cash. A jury has now found him guilty, and he could spend the rest of his life in prison when he is sentenced later this year.
Ohio Man Convicted of Killing Longtime Girlfriend
Randall Grinwis, 59, was found guilty by a jury in Ottawa County in connection with the 2024 death of his girlfriend, Donna Hyma, 63.
According to court records, the jury convicted Grinwis of:
- Second-degree murder
- Larceny between $1,000 and $20,000
Authorities said Hyma and Grinwis had been in a relationship for about 20 years before the deadly incident.
Victim Found Dead After Welfare Check
The case began on January 1, 2024, when deputies from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call requesting a welfare check.
The call concerned a home in the 200 block of Patti Place in Zeeland Township, located roughly 165 miles northwest of Detroit.
When deputies arrived, they found Hyma unresponsive inside the home. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
Initially, authorities believed her death may have been caused by natural factors. However, the circumstances were considered suspicious.
Autopsy Reveals Death by Strangulation
A later autopsy revealed the true cause of death.
Medical examiners determined that Hyma died from manual asphyxiation, meaning she had been strangled.
Investigators soon identified Grinwis as a person of interest, but he was not at the home when deputies arrived.
Suspect Fled State After Killing
Authorities later discovered that Grinwis had fled after the killing.
According to investigators, he took $1,800 in cash that belonged to Hyma’s brother, who also lived in the home.
The brother had reportedly asked Hyma to withdraw the money for him and store it in a lockbox in his room. He was not at the house at the time because he was recovering from surgery.
After taking the cash, Grinwis allegedly:
- Drove from Michigan to Chicago
- Used the money to book a flight to Las Vegas
He reportedly stayed in Las Vegas for about two weeks.
Suspect Turns Himself In
After running out of money, Grinwis turned himself in to authorities on January 15, 2024.
During questioning, he reportedly confessed to killing Hyma.
Investigators said the couple had been drinking heavily when they began arguing about their living arrangements.
Confession Reveals Details of Killing
In a recorded confession played during the trial, Grinwis described how the argument escalated.
He told detectives that Hyma was sitting on the couch when he approached her from behind.
According to his statement, he placed his forearm around her neck and applied pressure until she stopped moving.
After realizing she had no pulse, he packed his belongings, took the cash from the lockbox, and left the house.
911 Call Made Before Suspect Fled
While driving away from the scene, Grinwis said he began to feel guilty.
He placed a 911 call requesting a welfare check at the home before throwing his phone out of the car window.
During his confession, he told investigators that he had “snapped” during the argument but could not explain exactly what caused him to lose control.
Sentencing Scheduled
Grinwis now faces a possible life sentence in prison following his conviction.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 30, when a judge will determine the final punishment.
