Houston-area woman charged in murder-for-hire scheme
HOUSTON -- A Houston-area woman has been accused of trying to kill her husband during their bitter divorce, reports CBS affiliate KHOU.
Maria Sosa, 41, of Woodlands, Texas, has been charged with felony solicitation of capital murder and is being held under $1 million bond, according to the station. She and her husband, Ramon, own a local gym -- which became a source of contention for the couple, friends told reporters.
An affidavit reportedly claims that Sosa met with a undercover officer, believing he was a hitman, and allegedly hired him to kill her husband. She then paid the officer with $500 and men's jewelry as a down payment, according to the document.
She also allegedly agreed to give him $2,000 and her husband's truck after the deed was done.
The document also says that the undercover cop asked the suspect if she would like him to beat her husband up, according to KHOU. She then allegedly replied, "No. I want him dead."
Last Wednesday, the undercover agent called Sosa to tell her that her husband was dead. He also showed her a staged photograph -- depicting his murder -- according to the affidavit.
The suspect then allegedly paid the officer $1,000 and shook his hand -- smiling as she exited the vehicle, according to the document.
On Friday, a search warrant was executed by federal, state and local law enforcement, according to KHOU. A friend who Maria Sosa allegedly approached had reportedly alerted investigators to the murder-for-hire plot.