Couple ordered hit on grandkids

[Janice]

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

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.

[southerngale]

What is wrong with people? The grandparents and their son should be gently hung in the middle of their town and stoned to death by the citizens. They don't even deserve a respectable death. Sickos!!

[Janice]

Oh, texas already posted this. Could a mod please delete this? Thanks

[furluvcats]

WHY the family dog?

What a horrendous story...people amaze me....

[southerngale]

Oh, texas already posted this. Could a mod please delete this? Thanks

I didn't see it posted anywhere else, and I commented here. I say leave it.

[O Town]

I really don't get it. They love their son they should let him pay for what he did, I can see where the boy gets his regaurds for the law. Maybe they treated him the same way he treated his daughters and they think its okay. I agree with Kelly on this they should hang his butt in the middle of town for all to see.

[Miss Mary]

Some families are really dysfunctional and never knew how to behave normally and/or respect eachother. Wow, that is a shocking story. Does it surprise me? Not anymore. It seems we're always reading about parents who kill their young children, teachers who think it's appropriate to have adult relationships with their teenage students, Priests that well you know that story, on and on it goes.

I want to live in Mayberry! Truly I do.



Mary

[alicia-w]

sick people.

[beachbum_al]

Some people are really messed up in the head.