She Tried To Have Someone Murdered For $500. She Didn't Realize The Hitman Was Actually A Cop.

A Wisconsin woman had a plot to have someone killed, but it foiled when the planned killer became a police informant. Now, she'll be spending several years in prison.

Melissa A. Smith, 39, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin developed a murder-for-hire plot of a man she accused of telling police she was selling drugs, had urinated on her bed and had stolen her handgun, according to an affidavit.

On Aug. 14, Smith was sentenced to seven years and six months in Wisconsin state prison while receiving credit for 254 days served, WBAY reports. In January, she pleaded no contest to solicitation of first-degree intentional homicide and was found guilty.

Smith's arrest took place Aug. 3, 2021, after police had begun an investigation into a murder-for-hire plot from a confidential informant, according to the affidavit.

The informant referenced as "CI" in the affidavit told police of the plan and wore a wire during conversations with Smith. Police originally attempted to use CI to put officers in contact with an undercover investigator, but CI said Smith was unwilling to speak with someone she didn't know.

CI relayed initial conversations that were not recorded, stating the reasons as to why Smith wanted the man dead. CI told police that Smith was looking to get a handgun and offered them $500 to kill the man, the affidavit states.

On Aug. 2, CI informed police that the hit was to take place the next day. On Aug. 3, CI went to Smith's residence wearing a body wire and had a conversation with Smith, another woman and a man believed to be Smith's boyfriend.

During the conversation, Smith discussed paying CI $500 for the hit or relieving them of a $520 debt they owed her from a vehicle transaction, according to police. CI told Smith they would need duct tape and plastic or tarp to move the body.

CI and Smith discussed obtaining a gun for the killing, but CI later suggested that would not be necessary. CI noted that the intended victim was smaller so they could just break the man's neck, the affidavit states.

CI told police that Smith believed the intended victim had money stashed at his Oshkosh home. Smith talked about selling her property, including her vehicle, as she had plans to leave the area, police stated.

During their conversation, Smith mentioned plans to move out of the country, saying that she wanted the man's money and had to "get f****** passports." Smith said she planned to take her daughter out of the country, according to the affidavit.

CI asked Smith several times if she was "sure about this" and whether she was sure she wanted to go through with the killing and she kept saying how she wanted the money, police stated.

They had planned to "plastic" Smith's vehicle to keep evidence from winding up on the leather. CI told Smith they didn't want to be seen buying tape or plastic.

Smith talked about the place she planned to move to, believed to be the Dominican Republic, noting that she had "coke" there. Smith said she knew where to find the money in the intended victim's home and CI suggested they would "run in, do that, drag him out," according to the affidavit.

They noted that the security cameras at the man's home didn't work, and Smith told CI "Once you got him done, I'll go in."

Sometime after 7:30 p.m., investigators saw Smith's vehicle park at Family Dollar, located at 2017 Jackson Street in Oshkosh. Smith went inside and exited with two plastic bags. Smith approached CI's vehicle with the bags, police stated.

Then both vehicles left the parking lot and police executed a high-risk stop of Smith, as CI had seen a gun at Smith's residence, the affidavit states.

In an interview with police, Smith claimed she had gone to Family Dollar for a Pepsi and candy. At the time of the interview, Smith didn't know CI was acting as an informant, police stated.

Smith told investigators she didn't do anything wrong and tried to pin the plot on CI, saying CI wanted heroin that was in the man's home, according to the affidavit.

Police searched Smith's home and found a Glock airsoft gun and a $500 check written out to a friend of CI, drawn on Smith's account on July 24, 2021, the affidavit states.