Couple ordered hit on grandkids - whaaat?

[ejp626]

This story just gets worse and worse -- assuming it is true. All you can really say is that the apple didn't fall far from the tree and they all deserve long prison sentences.

From CNN:

Cops: Couple ordered hit on grandkids

Wanted to stop testimony at son's rape trial, police say

Friday, June 2, 2006; Posted: 12:35 p.m. EDT (16:35 GMT)

TAVARES, Florida (AP) -- A couple tried to hire a hit man to kill their three grandchildren and daughter-in-law to stop them from testifying against their son in his rape trial, authorities said.

The couple, ages 60 and 59, were charged with four counts each of criminal conspiracy to commit murder. They were being held without bond.

Police said the pair initially offered $100 to an undercover sheriff's deputy to kill their son's wife, their 10-year-old granddaughter, two step-grandchildren, ages 14 and 16, and the family dog.

More money was promised after the killings, said Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Christie Mysinger.

The couple's 31-year-old son has been jailed since November on 22 charges of sexual battery on a child, lewd and lascivious molestation and showing obscene material to a minor, court records show.

Detectives say his daughter and stepdaughter are the victims. The Associated Press has withheld the names of the grandparents and the family members to protect the children's identities.

The man tried to solicit a fellow jail inmate to kill his family, the arrest report said.

An informant told detectives about the plot and they arranged to meet the man's parents Tuesday at a Best Western motel in Tavares, a lakefront community about 30 miles northwest of Orlando, police said.

"(The deputy) said, 'You want me to kill everyone, including the dog?' They agreed," Mysinger said.

The son's attorney, Peter Sartes, said he had no details on the parents' arrest. It was not clear who was representing them.

[MartyJazz]

$100 to kill four people, three of them children. That simply is not believable. Scumbags these people probably are, but I'd like to see more credible evidence.

[slide_advantage_redoux]

This is sick, but I find it bizarrely (is that a word) humorous that he wanted the dog killled too.

[Dan Gould]

This is sick, but I find it bizarrely (is that a word) humorous that he wanted the dog killled too.

"I want his dog - dead!"

As far as the evidence, plenty of people try to arrange murders on an installment plan. The fact that they made the offer to a Sheriff's Deputy is more than enough for me.

Edited June 3, 2006 by Dan Gould

[robviti]

$100 to kill four people, three of them children. That simply is not believable. Scumbags these people probably are, but I'd like to see more credible evidence.

perhaps you'll believe the n.y. times:

Couple Tried to Hire Man to Kill Family, Police Say

By TERRY AGUAYO

Published: June 3, 2006

MIAMI, June 2 — A couple have been charged with trying to hire a hit man to kill their daughter-in-law, granddaughter and two step-grandchildren to prevent them from testifying at their son's rape trial.

"We've had murder-for-hire cases in the past, but we've never had one where grandparents wanted to murder their innocent grandchildren," said Sgt. Christie Mysinger, a spokeswoman for the Lake County Sheriff's Office. "That just blows your mind."

The police said that on Tuesday the couple went to a Best Western motel in Tavares, about 35 miles northwest of Orlando, to meet a man they thought was the hit man but who was actually an undercover officer. The couple were charged with four counts each of criminal conspiracy to commit murder and are being held without bail.

The couple's 31-year-old son has been in jail since November and is awaiting trial on charges of sexually assaulting his 10-year-old daughter and 16-year-old stepdaughter. The family members' names are being withheld to protect the children's identities.

While in jail, the authorities said, the couple's son told other inmates that he was looking for someone to kill his family and that he had outside help in hiring someone. One of the inmates alerted the authorities. Detectives immediately suspected the parents, the authorities said, and two undercover deputies arranged the meeting at the motel.

No charges have been filed against the couple's son for his involvement in the plan, Sergeant Mysinger said. "We're talking to witnesses and tidying up our case before we file charges against him," she said.

According to the arrest report, once the couple arrived at the motel, the woman offered $100 to the undercover officer while her husband waited outside.

The woman called the $100 "a token" and promised more money upon completion of the crimes. She was arrested when she turned over the money and asked that everyone living in the house be killed. Her husband was arrested outside the motel. The police said they thought the total amount to be paid for the killings was $400.

[Claude]

Wow, that would have been a great bargain if the job had been done.

Over her, despite the recent arrival of many well-trained professionals from the east-european countries, prices are much higher, so people generally prefer DIY.

[Brad]

Pretty sick, but why bother with the dog?

[BruceH]

The dog would be sad if left all alone.

[BruceH]

Of maybe it soiled their carpent once.

[BERIGAN]

I'm sure there are many people who'd be willing to kill the Grandparents for free.

Edited June 3, 2006 by BERIGAN

[Guy Berger]

I'm sure there are many people who'd be willing to kill the Grandparents for free.

What about the grandparents and the dog -- a package deal.

Guy

[Jazzmoose]

The dog talks.