The local authorities first knew of the owners of a prized horse ranch with a multi-million-dollar home when a fire occurred at the main house on the sprawling property. One of the property owners, the wife, was at the property. The responding deputies found her in possession of unregistered firearms and ammunition.
A month later, the same woman met a man for coffee and to discuss murdering her husband. She didn’t know the man was an undercover detective. Before she met with the hit man, a.k.a. undercover detective, she had offered a friend $2 million to kill her husband. The friend told the husband and the police.
She provided details on how she wanted her husband killed and where to dispose of his body. She brought weapons and money as a down payment for the murder.
The husband and wife had separated two months before the house fire—three months before the solicitation of murder plot hatched. They’d only been married for two years. Because she was accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle, she asked for $15,000 per month in spousal support as part of the divorce settlement.
Officers arrested her on charges of carrying a concealed, loaded, unregistered firearm and solicitation to commit murder.
The wife pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit murder and carrying a loaded, concealed firearm not registered to her. The judge sentenced the 43-year-old woman to a few months shy of four years in prison.
The judge’s sentence in this California case surprised me. I’ve summarized several murder-for-hire cases. Sentences vary across the states. Of course, the circumstances play a role in the sentencing. Here are some examples of murder-for-hire sentences in cases I’ve shared:
Colorado 10 years
Idaho 7.5 years
Michigan 7-20 years
Mississippi 10 years
Ohio 5 years
Oregon 10 years
Source: Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, Court TV, New York Post, CBS News, Law & Crime
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.
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