Jeremy Roberts
A central Ohio man killed his ex-wife outside an apartment complex when she arrived to pick up her two children. The former couple’s 13-year-old son witnessed the entire event and called 911 to say that his father had murdered his mother. Grove City Police

A central Ohio man is accused of stabbing his ex-wife to death outside an apartment complex on Sunday when she arrived to pick up their two children. A 13-year-old boy called 911 to report the killing, before handing the phone to his father, according to news reports.

My dad just killed my mom. He just told me to call you guys, the son of Candice Roberts, 36, of Grove City, told a dispatcher in a recording of the call, according to the Associated Press. He just ran out and killed my mom, and she's laying in the grass in front of our apartment.

The boy's father, Jeremy Roberts, 38, is in custody and will be charged with murder in connection with his ex-wife's death, police said. His bond was set at $250,000 after he appeared in Franklin County Municipal court on Monday. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 20, the AP said.

Tapes of the boy's 911 call painted a poignant scene. As the dispatcher sends police to the home, the boy can be heard begging the emergency operator to tell police not to hurt his father.

Please, guys, don't do anything to him in front of me, please, he said. He has no weapons.

Roberts apparently then gets on the phone himself, and tells police the only weapon, a knife, was outside with his ex-wife.

What did you do? the dispatcher asked him, according to a call transcript, reported the New York Daily News.

She's covered in a blanket -- you guys will see, Roberts responded.

Do you have any weapons there? the dispatcher asked.

The only one is outside with her, Roberts confirmed. He said he used a knife to kill her and would not harm anyone else.

Roberts then asked if he could kiss his children and tell them he loved them, before meeting police at the door.

Jackson Township medics arrived and pronounced Candice Roberts dead at the scene from multiple stab wounds, reported NBC

According to Grove City police Capt. Jeff Pearson, she had gone to the apartment to pick up her two children, ages 13 and 4, after a sleepover at ex-husband's apartment.

Candice Roberts' 16-year-old daughter said her parents had a decent relationship after divorcing, even attending her 4-year-old sister's soccer games together, according to NBC. She told a CNN affiliate that her mother's death has left her feeling incomplete and abandoned. She said her brother is traumatized by what he saw.

My brother says that every time he opens his eyes, he sees my mother's face and her yelling 'Help me!' the girl said, according to the Daily News.

The girl said she hopes that her father is punished for the murder.

You don't just get to murder somebody and get away with it, she told WCMH.