Police: Woman tried to recruit nanny in plot to murder husband
PASCO, Wash. -- Police here have arrested a housewife who allegedly tried to enlist a nanny to help her drug, then kill her husband.
Investigators said Michelle Murdock, 38, wanted to kill her 63-year-old husband, because she was "angry with him," and "wanted to get it over with."
The woman's plan was to "put John Murdock to sleep to allow Michelle to kill him" by "injecting him with a tranquilizer, then throwing him down some stairs or balcony," according to court documents.
The accused woman was allegedly going to carry out the plan last Friday, investigators said, but before it could happen, the nanny alerted John Murdock who, in turn, called police.
The nanny told detectives she'd only been working for the Murdocks for a week when Michelle Murdock asked for her help obtaining paralytic drugs.
When the nanny returned to the house on Friday, she was wearing a wire that had been provided by police. She handed a bottle of sedative to Michelle Murdock, who said they "discuss a plan to use it." But the housewife was booked into jail instead.
"I don't know that we've ever had something similar to this ever before," said Sheriff Richard Lathim.
Investigators say Michelle Murdock had even made a list of things to do after her husband's death.
The list included changing her address and bank information, logging onto dating sites, moving and arranging a trip to Mexico.
The Murdocks' neighbors in a posh corner of Pasco say they never saw any signs of trouble.
"I'm absolutely shocked. I just can't believe it," said neighbor Sylvia Morales. "You just don't know what goes on behind closed doors. It may seem like a picture-perfect home with great family life, and all of a sudden this happens."
Investigators said Michelle Murdock, 38, wanted to kill her 63-year-old husband, because she was "angry with him," and "wanted to get it over with."
The woman's plan was to "put John Murdock to sleep to allow Michelle to kill him" by "injecting him with a tranquilizer, then throwing him down some stairs or balcony," according to court documents.
The accused woman was allegedly going to carry out the plan last Friday, investigators said, but before it could happen, the nanny alerted John Murdock who, in turn, called police.
The nanny told detectives she'd only been working for the Murdocks for a week when Michelle Murdock asked for her help obtaining paralytic drugs.
When the nanny returned to the house on Friday, she was wearing a wire that had been provided by police. She handed a bottle of sedative to Michelle Murdock, who said they "discuss a plan to use it." But the housewife was booked into jail instead.
"I don't know that we've ever had something similar to this ever before," said Sheriff Richard Lathim.
Investigators say Michelle Murdock had even made a list of things to do after her husband's death.
The list included changing her address and bank information, logging onto dating sites, moving and arranging a trip to Mexico.
The Murdocks' neighbors in a posh corner of Pasco say they never saw any signs of trouble.
"I'm absolutely shocked. I just can't believe it," said neighbor Sylvia Morales. "You just don't know what goes on behind closed doors. It may seem like a picture-perfect home with great family life, and all of a sudden this happens."