If You Damage Me

After over 15 years of marriage, a couple divorced. The divorce was contentious and the ex-husband bitter. He became even more bitter after his arrest for failing to pay court-ordered alimony and child support.

While in jail, he told his cellmate that he wanted his ex-wife dead. The cellmate said he knew someone who could do that for him. The cellmate notified law enforcement of the conversation.

When they released the ex-husband from jail, he had numerous (recorded) phone conversations with the hitman his cellmate knew (a local detective posing as a hitman). They met in person to finalize the murder-for-hire plan, and the ex-husband included his current girlfriend in the discussions. He agreed to pay $1,000 and provided his ex-wife’s name, age, phone number, place of employment, the path she traveled to work, a photo of her and her home. At the meeting, the ex-husband’s girlfriend also gave the hitman information about the ex-wife.

The authorities arrested both the ex-husband and his then-girlfriend.

After his arrest, while in jail, the ex-husband wrote threatening letters to his girlfriend, who was also in jail. He was concerned she’d testify against him. Here are two examples of his threats for her to stay quiet:

“If you are going to testify against me, then I do not have any choice to defend myself and you will be in very bad shape for the rest of your life!! I will make sure your daughter gets what she deserves.”

 In another, he wrote,

“Remember if you damage me, I will not keep quiet. You will also go down with me.”

The 58-year-old ex-husband’s trial lasted eight days. A jury found him guilty of conspiring to commit murder-for-hire, traveling interstate with the intent that a murder-for-hire be committed, and tampering with a witness. A judge sentenced him to over 18 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

His 52-year-old girlfriend pleaded guilty to participating in the murder-for-hire scheme. A judge sentenced her to over five years in prison. She did not testify against her ex-boyfriend at his trial.

Source: U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. Department of Justice

All data and information provided is for information and research purposes only and not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual. Criminal cases may have been appealed or verdicts overturned since I researched the case. All information is provided on an as-is basis.