(WXYZ) — Michigan State Police say a woman agreed to pay $5,000, plus travel expenses, to have her ex-husband killed. Instead, she ended up face-to-face with an undercover trooper.
RELATED: Monroe County woman arrested for allegedly trying to hire hitman to kill her ex-husband
State police say 51-year-old Wendy Wein, of South Rockwood, was arrested Friday after attempting to hire a hitman to kill her ex-husband. They say she contacted a fictitious website called rentahitman.com, and completed a request form. Instead, police say the owner of the site called them.
"I’m very surprised someone thought it was a true website where you could actually do this,” said Lt. Brian Oleksk with Michigan State Police.
Investigators say an undercover operation in a Monroe County parking lot revealed Wendy was serious, and even willing to cover extra costs to travel out of the state where her ex-husband lives.
“We used a state trooper posing as a hitman," Oleksyk said. "There was a conversation. She provided funds for travel and at that time an arrest was made.”
Wein was arrested for solicitation to commit murder. She was locked up at the Monroe county Jail where she remains. She was charged Tuesday. She's also accused of using a computer to commit a crime. Police say the owner of the website stated he's helped stop more than 130 murders.
“I most definitely think a life was saved," Oleksy said. "I also think by doing a news story and getting the word out, some other lives might be saved by this.”
State police are now asking for anyone with information on this case to contact them.
