A Monticello woman who was arrested in a murder-for-hire case is accused of plotting to kill her husband and his ex-wife so she could inherit his business and receive his life insurance policy, according to a probable-cause affidavit.
Stephanie Rogers, 48, faces charges of conspiracy to commit capital murder and solicitation to commit capital murder, records show.
She is the wife of former Monticello Mayor Joe Rogers, who is a candidate in the city's mayoral election this fall.
The affidavit, written by detective Kenny Cox, said the investigation began Oct. 16 after a confidential informant told the Monticello Police Department that Stephanie Rogers had approached her about killing her husband's ex-wife, Debbie Rogers.
The informant said Stephanie Rogers wanted Debbie Rogers killed because she would inherit Joe Rogers' business upon his death, the affidavit said. Stephanie Rogers told the informant that she would kill her husband, receive his life insurance policy and take control of his business, Cox wrote.
Stephanie Rogers told the informant that she wanted her husband's death to look like an accident, according to the affidavit. She said she had already loosened the lug nuts on his truck but that he'd left the house in another vehicle, Cox noted.
Stephanie Rogers spoke with the informant again Oct. 17 about an uncle who could be hired to kill Debbie Rogers, the document said. She added that she wanted the murder to look like a robbery at Debbie Rogers' home and expressed interest in killing her quickly, Cox wrote.
In a recorded interview with the informant, Stephanie Rogers said she was "ready for this lady to be gone," police said.
State Desk on 11/02/2018