Viewer discretion advised: Footage captures UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in suspected targeted attack



On Tuesday, December 4, at approximately 6:45 a.m., United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside the Hilton Midtown hotel in New York City in what authorities suspect is a targeted attack.

From the assassin-like shooter to the reason that brought Thompson to New York, the circumstances surrounding his death are eerie, to say the least.

Dave Landau and the “Normal World” cast, along with guest Derek Richards, discuss the harrowing details of the murder.

“Police have released images of the suspect, who is described as a skinny man, standing about 6’1” and wearing all black,” Dave reads from a report. Currently, the shooter is still on the loose.

While the suspect himself looks like an average man, the weapon he used to shoot Thompson was certainly not average.

“He had a silencer” on the gun he used and an attachment that “[caught] the shells,” says Dave, who plays the actual footage of the shooting (viewer discretion advised).

Viewers can see Thompson walking to the Hilton, when the shooter walks calmly into the video frame from what appears to be the street, where police say he was likely lying in wait. He aims his weapon and shoots Thompson with precision multiple times before darting back across the street and disappearing.

The gunshots are “so quiet, [bystanders] don’t even know. Cars keep going,” says Dave.

Garrett agrees, “That is professional.”

“To do it literally right there in Manhattan is insane,” adds Richards, who also assumes that this was no random act of passion by an angry person who was denied coverage, as Thompson was hit with "Hilary Clinton precision.”

If the crew is right in the prediction that this was indeed a targeted attack, then the next question is obviously why?

This is where the story gets even juicier.

According to reports, Thompson was in New York to attend “an investors' conference that UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, was scheduled to host on Wednesday at the Hilton.”

“What was he going to disclose at the shareholders' meeting?” asks Dave.

Further, “Brian Thompson was facing a Department of Justice probe for insider trading,” says Angela.

“He was obviously trading and dealing with somebody, and they didn’t want that getting out,” Dave theorizes.

Garrett agrees, adding, “It couldn’t just be somebody got pissed and pulled a gun, because that would be sloppy,” but “this was so professional, so it’s gotta come from somebody that’s higher-level.”

To hear more details of the story and see the footage of the shooting, watch the episode above.

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Multi-millionaire hired numerous hitmen in murder-for-hire plots against wife — then killed himself as cops closed in: FBI



A prominent south Florida developer hired numerous hitmen to kill his wife of 32 years, according to the FBI. The multi-millionaire reportedly killed himself just as law enforcement officials were closing in on him.

The FBI said they have recorded phone calls that have incriminated several suspects accused of traumatizing Tatiana Pino — the estranged wife of Sergio Pino.

Investigators believe the motive for the husband's alleged murder-for-hire plot was because his wife rejected his divorce settlement offer of $20 million.

On June 23, a male allegedly pointed a gun at Pino's daughter — 26-year-old Alessandra Pino. The daughter reportedly told a 911 operator, "Oh my gosh. My mom is here. They might have shot her."

Pinecrest Police Department Chief Jason Cohen told Fox News, "[Tatiana] came home from her morning errands, and as she pulled in the driveway, this person pulled up, got out of the car with a firearm. Her daughter actually came out of the house and kind of went face to face with this gunman who clearly wasn't there for the daughter because he, from what I understand, he had the ability to shoot her if he wanted to, and he didn't."

Cohen added, "The guy ended up fleeing because our officers started responding, and he was not able to do what we believe he was there to do that day. We think he was there to likely take her life, Tatiana's life at that point."

A year earlier, someone slammed a rented Home Depot truck into an SUV that Tatiana was driving — in the same driveway where the gun threat took place.

Cohen explained, "She came home from being out, and when she pulled into her driveway, there was a Home Depot flatbed rental truck that was sitting on the street waiting for her. And as she pulled in, it kind of rammed her vehicle and took off."

"It was brought to our attention that this incident here was likely much more than just somebody crashing into her while she's coming home," Cohen stated. "We were made aware of a lot of the background of what had been going on with Mrs. Pino, the accusations of her being poisoned or drugged by potentially her soon-to-be ex-husband … it started to make sense that this was just another piece in that big puzzle."

Tatiana filed for divorce in April 2022.

The murder-for-hire plot to kill Tatiana reportedly began as early as July 2022.

'Now you can’t shake the rap. Your two boys now, or whoever the f*** they are, they can shake the rap.'

U.S. attorney Markenzy Lapointe said hitmen even "obtained fentanyl to assist Sergio Pino in his effort to kill his wife."

"Mrs. Pino had to die before their next divorce proceedings," Lapointe said.

The FBI investigated the case and zeroed in on Sergio Pino.

On July 16, the FBI conducted a search and arrest operation at the Pinos' $8 million waterfront Coral Gables home, but Pino allegedly committed suicide just as law enforcement officials were closing in on him.

The FBI said in a press release that "Sergio Pino was discovered by the FBI inside the residence deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound."

Sam Rabin, Pino’s criminal defense attorney, stated that "Sergio Pino took his own life today. The level of law enforcement activity at his residence was unprecedented and unnecessary, especially since we had offered to surrender him, should that have become necessary. Today’s events mark a very tragic ending to an investigation that we were confident we could successfully defend. There were many rumors and allegations, but what was lacking was evidence."

Pino's alleged suicide ended the criminal case against him, but police have been scrutinizing other suspects.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced in a July 31 news release that suspects have been charged and indicted for their "respective involvement in a campaign to stalk, torment, and attempt to kill" Tatiana Pino, including Bayron Bennett, 33; Fausto Villar, 42; Avery Bivins, 36; Clementa Johnson, 47; Diori Barnard, 47; Jerren Keith Howard, 38; Michael Jose Dulfo, 42; and Edner Etienne 27. If convicted, the suspects would face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The FBI said it has recorded phone calls between Villar and Bivins. Both served time in Florida state prison — Bivins for attempted felony murder and armed robbery and Villar for armed robbery.

“It’s going to be good, everything gonna be straight,” Bivins allegedly told Villar.

“Straight. But the f***ing smoke has to clear,” Villar replied. “Everything has to clear, smoke has to clear. So with what you got, try to fend off.”

“It’s going to be good, everything gonna be straight,” Bivins tells him.

“When this b**** gets over and done with, know this — we’re all good, you know what I’m saying?” Villar allegedly told Bivins. “Everything is going to be good.”

After members of Bivins' crew was arrested, Villar became worried about law enforcement cracking down on them.

“Why would you, if you get pinched, they’re going to have, this becomes now a conspiracy,” Villar reportedly told Bivins. “Now you can’t shake the rap. Your two boys now, or whoever the f*** they are, they can shake the rap.”

Villar advised Bivins to delete his social media accounts.

The FBI said Bivins agreed to a deal of $150,000 from Villar to murder Tatiana and had already paid him $75,000. Reportedly, there was a $150,000 bonus in the offing if the act were to have been carried out without law enforcement detection.

Cohen said of the case, "I've been in law enforcement for 27 years, and something like this ... it seemed like something out of a Hollywood movie, but this was unfortunately real life."

Investigators believe the motive for the husband's alleged murder-for-hire plot was because his wife rejected his divorce settlement offer of $20 million. Financial statements revealed in the couple's divorce case showed the pair's 2022 net worth at more than $153 million and as much as $359 million.

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California equestrian accused of $2 million murder-for-hire plot, hiring hitman to kill estranged husband



A California woman is accused of attempting to orchestrate a $2 million murder-for-hire plot to kill off her estranged husband.

Tatyana Remley, 42, was arrested on Aug. 2 at a Starbucks in Solana Beach, California. The glamorous and wealthy equestrian was charged with solicitation of murder, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, according to court records.

Remley filed for divorce from her 57-year-old husband on July 11. The pair had been separated since May, but shared homes in Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe.

The divorce filing also reportedly claimed that her husband, Mark Remley, held a gun to Tatyana's head one time and once chased her around their $5 million California home with a knife.

Tatyana asked the court to order Remley to pay $15,000 in monthly spousal support and to grant her control of multiple assets, including vehicles and property.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, "During their first year of marriage, Mark Remley bought Tatyana about $160,000 worth of clothes and jewelry and a $30,000 truck. He also bought her a $218,000 engagement ring and a $70,000 diamond ring."

However, Tatyana was on law enforcement's radar shortly before she filed for divorce.

On July 2, police responded to a fire at the couple's $5 million home in the suburbs of San Diego. Police found three firearms and ammunition belonging to Tatyana, and charged her.

Fox News reported, "She allegedly had an illegal handgun hidden in her car and then got out with it in public." She was later released on bail.

The fire is still being investigated.

Tatyana is accused of organizing a murder-for-hire plot on her husband – who she has been married to since 2011.

The day after the fire, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department opened an investigation into her alleged murder-for-hire plot "after receiving information Remley was attempting to hire someone to kill her estranged husband."

The husband reportedly told the Coast News that a mutual friend of the couple told him in early July that Tatyana offered the friend $2 million to murder Mark.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department organized a sting operation to attempt to catch Tatyana.

On Aug. 2, Tatyana allegedly met with an undercover detective posing as a hitman at Starbucks.

"She provided detailed information on how she wanted her husband killed and his body disposed," the sheriff’s department said.

She reportedly brought money for a "down payment" for the murder-for-hire plot as well as three firearms. Officers arrested Tatyana at the Starbucks.

Remley is currently being held without bail at the Las Colinas Detention Facility in Santee, California. Tatyana has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Remley is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 16.

Tatyana and Mark Remley are known for producing an extravagant horse show named "Valitar" in 2012. The "equine-human acrobatics" show was suddenly shut down after just four disappointing performances. The couple reportedly spent millions producing the short-lived equestrian show. Crew members and performers were reportedly not paid for nearly a month.

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‘Textbook Murder for Hire’: Failed Horse Show Producer Allegedly Put $2M Hit on Husband www.youtube.com

How a robbery at a Bahamas bar exposed an alleged murder-for-hire plot on a former Auburn football player by ex-beauty queen and her secret lover



A Georgia ex-beauty queen has been arrested for allegedly plotting a murder-for-hire on her estranged husband along with her secret lover. The hitman plot to kill the former Auburn football player was only exposed after authorities discovered damning evidence while investigating a completely different crime committed at a beach bar in the Bahamas.

Lindsay Shiver, 36, conspired with her alleged secret lover, 28-year-old Terrance Bethel, to kill her estranged husband, Robert Shiver, according to Bahamas Court News. The former beauty pageant queen and mother-of-three reportedly devised a murder-for-hire plot with Bethel and 29-year-old Faron Newbold.

Bahamian police stumbled upon the murder plot while investigating a completely separate case. Earlier this month, local police were investigating a burglary at Grabber’s Bar and Grill in Great Guana Cay in the Bahamas.

Police reportedly discovered WhatsApp messages "detailing the plan" for the murder-for-hire plot on a cell phone belonging to a suspect in the beach bar break-in. Authorities did not reveal who owned the phone with the messages about the purported murder plan.

The Thomasville Times-Enterprise reported, "A source familiar with the investigation said the Shivers have a home in the Bahamas, where Lindsay first began an affair with Bethel. Upon Robert finding out about the affair, he filed for divorce."

Following the divorce filing, Lindsay, Bethel, and Newbold Jr. allegedly devised a plan to kill Robert Shiver during a meeting in Abaco, Bahamas.

"On July 16, 2023 at Abaco, while being together, did with a common purpose agree to commit an offense, namely the murder of Richard Shiver," the police report stated.

The trio were arrested in Abaco and transported to a jail in the country's capital of Nassau.

They are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 5.

Lindsay and Robert have three sons together.

Lindsay Shiver was previously a cheerleader at Auburn University – where she met Robert at a fitness class.

In 2005, Lindsay Shiver was crowned Miss Houston County and finished as the 2nd runner-up in the National Peanut Festival pageant, according to WTVY.

Robert Shiver was a snapper for the Auburn Tigers between 2006 and 2008. In 2009, Shiver signed with Atlanta Falcons as a free agent but was cut before the start of the NFL season.

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Florida teen mom tried to hire hitman on fake website to kill 3-year-old son: Police



A Florida woman was arrested on Tuesday after attempting to hire a hitman from a fake hire-an-assassin website to kill her 3-year-old son, according to police.

Jazmin Paez, an 18-year-old mother from Miami, was charged with first-degree solicitation of murder and third-degree using a communications device for an unlawful use, according to CBS News.

Miami-Dade County Judge Mindy Glazer set the bond at $15,000 and ordered Paez to have no contact with the child. Paez was released from jail on Thursday and did not give any comments to reporters after being released.

Paez reportedly visited the RentAHitman.com website — which is a site that offers fake assassins.

The website states: "Our expertly trained field operatives are dedicated to providing a complimentary consultation to help you discover the perfect solution for your unique situation."

Paez requested a hitman to kill her 3-year-old son, according to arrest documents. The teen mom reportedly sent photos of her son to the fake hitman and provided the exact location of where the toddler was going to be when she wanted the child murdered.

The website owner, Robert Innes, notified the Miami-Dade police on Tuesday about the woman attempting to arrange the murder-for-hire plot of her young son.

Innes told WTVJ, "The ability to research names and addresses and verify the intended target lived in a particular address. That, to me, is a red flag. If that information is corroborated, to me, that is something that needs to be looked at, and that’s why I referred it."

Police traced the IP address of the computer that was used to make the murder-for-hire request. Investigators posed as the hired hitman and contacted Paez, according to arrest documents. Police said Paez agreed to pay $3,000 for the hitman to murder her son.

Paez allegedly provided a fake name for herself and also had a safe word of "put me in coach."

She reportedly told authorities that she wanted to have her kid killed "to get something done once and for all.”

Paez allegedly asked for her son to "be taken away, far, far, far away and possibly be killed but ASAP."

Detectives reportedly went to the address that Paez supplied them with — where they found the boy and his grandmother. She told the police that her daughter had moved out of her home in May and had lived with her father ever since. The toddler was living with his grandmother, and the mother would have video conferences with her son daily. The grandmother confirmed her grandson was the boy in the photo provided by Paez.

Paez was later arrested at her father's house and provided a confession, according to the police report.

The RentAHitman website has led to the arrests of at least 150 people who wanted to hire an assassin.

In April, a Tennessee Air National Guardsman was arrested for allegedly seeking a hitman from the fake website.

Police: Teen mom tried to hire hitman to kill her son www.youtube.com

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FBI nabs Air National Guardsman who applied as an assassin on a parody website



A Tennessee Air National Guardsman is facing federal charges after meeting with an undercover agent Wednesday to arrange a murder-for-hire, U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis announced Friday.

Josiah Ernesto Garcia, 21, was charged Thursday in a criminal complaint involving the use of interstate facilities in the commission of murder for hire.

Garcia's status as an airman first class in the Air National Guard since July 2021 was confirmed by CBS News.

Garcia submitted an employment inquiry to a parody website called "rent-a-hitman" while searing for contract mercenary jobs to support his family back in February, according to the release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee.

The opening page of the site warns readers against competing unsafe "marketplaces for carrying out nefarious deeds." They claim, tongue-in-cheek, to offer services for people who are "tired of getting bullied" and say they can "make any troubled relationship disappear."

To add to what would seemingly be readily apparent as a joke, the site boasts "100% compliance" with the obviously non-existent "Hitman Information Privacy & Protection Act of 1964 (HIPPA)." Further, they provide testimonials from customers like "Laura," who caught her husband cheating, but after availing herself of the site's services, is "single again."

Garcia, apparently unaware the site was a parody, applied for work on the site as a hired killer via a webform. A disclaimer on the bottom of the form currently notes "Due to contractual restrictions, Rent-A-Hitman is no longer affiliated with Diners Club, Kanye West, the Illuminati, Rudolph Giuliani, Alec Baldwin, Kyle Rittenhouse or Carole Baskin."

Garcia followed up by submitting a resume and identification documents to the site, the DOJ says. His resume reportedly said he had earned the nickname "Reaper" from his military experience and marksmanship.

An undercover FBI agent began communicating with the young guardsman, who agreed to kill a person for the sum of $5,000.

When Garcia met the agent at a park in Hendersonville, Tennessee Wednesday, he received a packet of information about the fictional target along with a down payment of $2,500. Garcia agreed to the terms and inquired about whether he would need to provide a photo of the dead body.

After he was arrested, FBI agents searched his home and recovered an AR style rifle.

If convicted, Garcia will face up to 10 years in prison.

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Florida police arrest new husband of former Microsoft executive's ex-wife in connection with his murder —after hitman gives him up



Jared Bridegan, a former Microsoft executive and father of four, was gunned down in Florida last year in front of his infant daughter. The hitman responsible for Bridegan's murder not only pleaded guilty Thursday, but also turned on his alleged co-conspirator.

Officials indicated that immediately after the hitman entered his guilty plea, a judge signed the arrest warrant for Mario Fernandez Saldana, the new husband of Bridegan's ex-wife. Saldana was taken into custody around 9:35 a.m. without incident.

What's the background?

Bridegan, 33, was gunned down on Feb. 16, 2022, in the area of Jacksonville Drive and Sanctuary Boulevard in front of his 2-year-old daughter, who was sitting in the back seat of his car, reported the Florida Times-Union. He had just dropped off his 9-year-old twins at his ex-wife's residence.

Responding to a call around 8 p.m., officers found Bridegan's body in a wooded area near the road but his daughter unharmed. Handgun shell casings were found at the scene as well as a damaged tire. The victim was reportedly shot at close range.

According to officials, a tire had purposefully been set on the road blocking the way. When Bridegan exited his vehicle to move the tire, police say "he was gunned down in cold blood."

Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said, "This was a planned and target[ed] ambush and murder."

In late January 2023, Smith announced that 61-year-old felon Henry Arthur Tenon had been charged in connection with Bridegan's slaying. Tenon was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder with a weapon, accessory after the fact to capital felony, and child abuse.

The Times-Union indicated that Tenon was a career criminal with a felonious record in Georgia and nine arrests in Jacksonville.

At the time of Tenon's arrest, State Attorney Melissa Nelson noted that "Henry Tenon did not act alone."

There was a great deal of speculation about possible motives and accomplices, especially since Bridegan and his ex, 35-year-old Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, had a long and bitter divorce.

Gardner-Fernandez recently hired a defense attorney to deal with media pressure and accusations that she or her new husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana, might have had something to do with Bridegan's grisly demise.

Gardner-Fernandez told the Times-Union, "I feel for Jared's family and what they are going through. I can't even imagine."

The victim, who had similarly remarried, was survived by widow Kirsten Bridegan, with whom he had two children.

Kirsten has pushed ardently for clues as to who might have wanted her husband dead and why, noting, "He was a dedicated father. He did everything for his children, and he cannot be replaced. They will never have their dad back. I want answers."

Death penalty

Chief Smith announced on Thursday that Mario Fernandez Saldana had been arrested in connection with Bridegan's murder.

WTLV-TV previously established that the accused hitman had rented a property from Saldana.

"I was not surprised that there was a connection. It's tragic, my immediate thoughts were for Liam and Abigail and what they are going through right now because of what that could implicate, but I was not surprised with that connection being made," Kirsten Bridegan said upon learning of the link.

ATF Special Agent Robert Bryson told reporters Thursday that Saldana was arrested around 9:35 a.m. without incident and transported to the Orange County jail.

State Attorney Nelson indicated that as part of Tenon's plea agreement with the State of Florida, "he has agreed to testify truthfully against those he worked with to murder Jared Bridegan. ... Tenon's cooperation has both corroborated evidence collected during the investigation and provided additional evidence against Mario Fernandez Saldana for his role in the planning and execution of Jared's murder."

ABC News reported that phone records showed Tenon and Saldana had 35 "phone contacts" in February 2022, the month Bridegan was murdered. The hitman and the disgruntled ex-wife's husband interacted by phone on multiple other occasions between March and June, according Saldana's arrest warrant.

A grand jury has indicted Saldana with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony, and child abuse.

Nelson noted that if found guilty of first-degree murder, Saldana faces the death penalty or life imprisonment.

After Thursday's press briefing, Kirsten Bridegan said, "We have great relief knowing that two of the people behind my husband's murder are behind bars and are no longer a threat to our family. ... We are also still angry — angry that they were walking free while we were grappling with the reality that Jared wouldn't be here for any future memories, vacations or tender moments with our kids."

Kirsten Bridegan added, "We have fought hard for the truth and the world now knows what we have known all along; that Jared truly was an innocent victim. ... Since day one, those in charge of the investigation promised us that they would be relentless in their pursuit of justice and they have been."

Bridegan's ex-wife, Shanna, has not been arrested. Police have yet to note whether they intend to make additional arrests.

Watch | Officials to announce major development in Jared Bridegan's murder youtu.be

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'Inject her with heroin': Baby doctor who hired hit men on dark web to kidnap wife pleads guilty to federal charges



A former baby doctor – who was reportedly involved in a twisted plot to forcefully prevent his estranged wife from divorcing him – pled guilty to federal charges on Wednesday.

Ronald Craig Ilg, a 55-year-old former neonatal doctor in Spokane, Washington, pled guilty to transmitting threats in interstate commerce in federal court. The felony has a maximum sentence of 10 years, but Ilg's legal team made a plea agreement to a sentencing range of 60 to 96 months.

Ilg was supposed to go on trial next month and was initially facing eight federal charges, including cyberstalking, attempted kidnapping, and tampering with a witness, according to KLXY.

Ilg allegedly used the dark web to attempt to hire multiple hit men to inflict pain on his estranged wife and a colleague.

In February 2021, Ilg purportedly utilized the dark web to try to hire a hit man to injure a former professional colleague.

"According to prosecutors, Ilg, the former chief medical director of a multistate neonatology management group, first tried to orchestrate an assault on a former colleague who he believed was involved in an internal workplace investigation against him," the Daily Beast reported. "The messages obtained by the government asked the hitman to deliver a 'significant beating' that would 'injure both hands significantly or break the hands.' He allegedly wired the service $2,000 in bitcoin as compensation."

Ilg told the hit man, "I would like to see evidence that it happened. If this goes well, I have another, more complicated job [for an] entirely different target with entirely different objectives."

The other "target" was allegedly his estranged wife. Ilg reportedly wanted to hire a hit man to kidnap the mother of his child, torture her, inject her with drugs, and blackmail her.

According to court documents, Ilg instructed the hired hit man to "stop all court proceedings" in their divorce that were pending at the time.

"Plant drugs in her home and used needles a day or so after collecting her," Ilg purportedly wrote. "So, if people start looking for her while she is detained, they will find them."

The baby doctor allegedly said, "Inject her with heroin 2 times per day. Teach her to inject herself. Send pics and videos of her injecting herself for bribery later."

Ilg allegedly furnished the hit man with his wife's complete schedule.

"By early April, Scar215 had reached out to yet another dark-web site, hoping to have his request completed by the second weekend of the month," the Daily Beast reported. "He told the site he had put $5,000 in bitcoin for them in escrow, and that another $10,000 would be coming to them the next day. He promised an extra $40,000 if all of his goals were achieved in the allotted time frame."

On April 8, 2021, the day before the alleged kidnapping plot was expected to happen, Ilg took a vacation in Mexico with his mistress.

The mistress – identified in court documents as "Witness 2" – and Ilg's wife – identified in court documents as "Victim 2" – allegedly knew each other from a prior relationship with the baby doctor.

"Ilg’s wife had told investigators that she and Ilg married in 2016, and after the birth of their child in May 2018, Ilg 'located Witness 1 on the internet and invited her into the relationship with Ilg and Victim 2,'" Law & Crime reported. "As time passed, Victim 2 increasingly became uncomfortable with the relationship," the criminal complaint against Ilg says. However, although Ilg and his wife were involved in 'contentious divorce proceedings,' she and the witness 'maintained communication with each other regarding Ilg throughout the relationship.'"

On the first day of the vacation, Ilg's girlfriend notified the estranged wife, "Some strange stuff has happened while we have been here[.] I need to talk to you asap [sic] when we get back[.]”

The girlfriend found out that Ilg had a "burner" phone. According to court documents, she threw his phone into the hotel pool because she thought he had the phone so he could talk to other women. A fight ensued, according to the girlfriend. FBI special agent and key witness Ryan Butler testified that he heard audio recordings of Ilg allegedly assaulting her.

"Butler said in the tapes, he can hear her beg him to stop hurting her, then she struggles to breathe for several minutes," KREM reported.

After the fight, the girlfriend claimed that Ilg forced her to sign a contract requiring her to "unconditionally accept what [Ilg] would like to do."

The document was later presented in a court hearing. The contract appeared to be stamped with both of their fingerprints in blood.

Upon his return from the Mexico vacation on April 11, FBI agents interrogated Ilg. The FBI had been allegedly tipped off about Ilg's dark web negotiations by BBC journalists investigating murder-for-hire services on the dark web.

Ilg reportedly informed FBI agents that he arranged the "hit" on himself. The FBI released him.

The next day, Ilg was reportedly found unconscious on his kitchen floor in an apparent suicide attempt when he ingested 46 Xanax pills.

The girlfriend would later tell FBI agents that she witnessed Ilg using the dark web. When confronted, Ilg told her that he was using it for gambling. However, she said that Ilg wasn't a gambler based on a previous trip to Las Vegas.

The Department of Justice stated, "Ilg sent a letter to a key witness against him – begging the witness to marry him so he could control whether she testified. He also offered to pay tuition for the witness’s children to attend Gonzaga Preparatory School and St. Aloysius Catholic School in Spokane, Washington. Ilg even directed the witness to destroy evidence by burning Ilg’s letter."

According to court documents, Ilg used the username of “Scar215” and the password “Mufassa$." The names may have a connection to the Disney animated movie "The Lion King."

The Spokane Spokesman-Review noted, "Investigators discovered a password for the 'Scar215' account – a play on the villainous character’s brother, Mufasa, in 'The Lion King' film – in Ilg’s biometrically locked safe at his home in Otis Orchards, authorities said. They said the password and screen name were consistent with Ilg’s 'affinity for lions.'"

Authorities said Ilg transferred more than $60,000 in cryptocurrency to alleged hit men on the dark web.

Ilg told the judge on Wednesday, "Your honor, I was a broken man. I was broken and I contacted different websites on the dark web to not only injure one of my partners, but also kidnap my wife."

Spokane doctor accused of hiring hitman to kidnap, assault estranged wife pleads guilty www.youtube.com

Police: Florida woman used PPP loan to hire hit man to kill rival. Shooter murdered young mother and injured 3-year-old daughter.



A Florida woman used funds from a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan to hire a hit man to murder a rival who dated her ex-boyfriend, according to police.

On April 20, 2021, Jasmine Martinez, 33, received a $15,000 PPP loan, which she claimed was to bankroll her single-employee beauty salon. PPP loans are loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration that are provided to businesses to keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two weeks later, a man wearing a black sweatshirt shot Le'Shonte Jones, 24, as she walked to her South Miami-Dade apartment building with her 3-year-old daughter at around 3:15 p.m.

Jones, a Transportation Security Administration employee at Miami International Airport, died at the crime scene from multiple gunshot wounds in the attack. Her daughter was injured from the shooting after being grazed by bullets and was airlifted to a hospital.

Martinez made withdrawals from her bank account totaling more than $10,000 in the days before Jones' murder, the police said. Police suspect that Martinez paid ex-con Javon Carter, 29, for the hit on Jones. Romiel Robinson, a 35-year-old Florida man believed to be in a romantic relationship with Martinez, served as a middle man and put his girlfriend in touch with the alleged hit man, according to arrest warrants.

The Miami Herald said of Carter, "The warrants reveal that a couple hours after the murder, he got paid and used his phone to video himself counting a 'large sum' of cash. 'Just another day at the office,' he said in the video, according to the warrants."

NEW: Three charged in murder of Miami TSA agent Le\u2019Shonte Jones. One of the suspects, Jasmine Martinez, had a long history of run-ins with victim.\n\nJones was also the victim/witness in a robbery case involving Martinez's boyfriend.https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article258309843.html\u00a0\u2026
— David Ovalle (@David Ovalle) 1644620626

Investigators focused their attention on the relationship between Martinez and Jones.

"The police said the killing occurred after a series of violent acts were inflicted on Jones over the years by Martinez or people connected with her," the New York Times reported.

In May 2018, Martinez allegedly ran up to Jones and began punching her in the face. Martinez was charged with battery.

While testifying in the case against Martinez, police said Jones was walking to her car outside the courthouse when she was punched, then had her cell phone and other belongings stolen by two men. According to police, one of the men was reportedly Martinez's new boyfriend, Kelly Nelson. He was arrested and charged with armed robbery in that case.

Last March, Jones informed authorities that she was being harassed and offered money not to testify in the robbery case, police said. Martinez purportedly sent Jones a message on social media instructing her to tell authorities that Nelson did not have a firearm during the robbery, police said.

The TSA agent continued to cooperate with prosecutors and revealed the harassment by Martinez during a deposition on April 9, just weeks before her killing.

After Jones was murdered, detectives reviewed jail phone calls between Martinez and Nelson, who was incarcerated. In one phone call, Martinez said she was "ready to go kill this ho" and said Jones has to "die," according to the warrant. Nelson has not been accused of participating in the killing of Jones.

Last week, police arrested Martinez in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Also last week, Miami-Dade police arrested Carter. Robinson was already incarcerated.

Carter was charged with first-degree murder and the attempted murder of Jones’ daughter.

"The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is planning to seek grand jury indictments for first-degree murder, which means the trio could possibly face the death penalty," according to the Miami Herald.

Fallon Zirpoli, a lawyer representing Martinez, said in a statement on Tuesday that his client "has always denied any involvement in this tragedy since the first time law enforcement approached her last summer.

Jonathan Jordan, Robinson's attorney, said, "Romiel is and has been in custody well before this incident unfolded. This loss of life is tragic but Mr. Robinson had nothing to do with it. We look forward to reviewing all of the evidence and maintain he is innocent of these allegations."

From left: Romiel Robinson, Jasmine Martinez, Javon CarterMiami-Dade Police