Midwest
Ohio teacher attempted to pay student $2K to kill estranged husband in failed murder-for-hire plot
An Ohio substitute teacher is accused of offering a student $2,000 to kill her estranged husband before the teenager’s mother caught wind of the murder-for-hire plot and alerted authorities.
Stephanie Demetrius, 44, was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree conspiracy for the offer to a boy at The Academy For Urban Scholars High School in Columbus, WSYX reported.
Demetrius approached a student at the school on March 26 and offered $2,000 to carry out the murder of her soon-to-be ex-husband. The student was initially paid $250 in cash as a down payment.
“This particular teacher was attempting to groom this young person into committing murder,” Columbus Division of Police Sgt. James Fuqua told WSYX.
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Stephanie Demetrius, 44, was charged with first-degree conspiracy. (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)
The plan was foiled when the student’s mom discovered texts on her son’s phone between him and Demetrius. The teenager’s mother then reported the incident to the police.
“Without their help, some of this might not have come to light,” Fuqua said. “This was a situation where a parent was able to capture things inside this young person’s phone and contact authorities.”
In a recorded phone call between the student and Demetrius, the substitute teacher told the student that he would receive the remainder of the payment, saying she owed an additional “15.”
The substitute teacher also gave the student information about when her children would be out of the home, so he could kill her estranged husband, who worked from home, court records show, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
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Demetrius approached a student at the school on March 26 and offered $2,000 to carry out the murder of her soon-to-be ex-husband. (iStock)
“When asked if the neighbors would hear the gunfire, she advised that they don’t care about the neighbors,” court records state, the outlet reported.
Demetrius and her husband have been married since 2004 but were going through divorce proceedings, court records show.
She appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court on Thursday morning, with her public defender denying the allegations and criticizing them as fabrication.
Prosecutor Parker Schwartz said Demetrius’s estranged husband had received a protection order against her. Schwartz also noted that Demetrius had exhibited “possessive and controlling behavior,” had mental health issues and had previously made homicidal threats.
The plan was foiled when the student’s mom discovered texts on her son’s phone. (iStock)
Court filings show she has previously been accused of assaulting her estranged husband and some of her children, setting a fire in her home’s basement, smashing garage doors and damaging other property while the children were present and other threatening behavior, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Demetrius was released on a $150,000 bond and is barred from having any contact with her estranged husband or the student. She is due back in court on April 11.
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Indianapolis, IN
IMPD: Person shot in vicinity of East Washington Street gas station
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A person was shot Sunday afternoon at a gas station along East Washington Street in Indianapolis, police said.
Medics and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were called about 5:10 p.m. Sunday to a report of a person shot and an unsafe gunshot scene at 4415 E. Washington St. That’s the address of a Citgo gas station located a few blocks west of Emerson Avenue.
The person shot was stable, awake and breathing, IMPD said in a media notification. IMPD did not plan to provide any more information from the crime scene on Sunday.
No additional information was immediately available, including whether the area was safe or if a suspect was in custody or being sought.
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo evacuates ‘out of caution’ after reported threat
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo received a similar threat to those reported across the country Sunday afternoon.
According to the zoo’s Director of Communications Jacqueline Gerling, the zoo proactively evacuated the premises out an abundance of caution.
The evacuation is to ensure the safety of all guests and staff, and the zoo will remain closed for the day.
Gerling told 19 News that the zoo looks to reopen tomorrow.
This is the second threat in Northeast Ohio as Akron Zoo also received a threat earlier this morning.
Akron Zoo evacuated after bomb and active shooter threat
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Illinois
Man found dead near Chicago Executive Airport may have been killed in crash: police
WHEELING, Ill. (WLS) — North suburban police believe a man found dead near the Chicago Executive Airport viewing area on Sunday morning may have been killed in a crash.
Prospect Heights police said its officers responded to the area of 79 Palatine Frontage Road in Wheeling just after 9 a.m.
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There, officers found a man lying on the ground along the fence. Police said the man, who was unconscious and cold to the touch, was pronounced dead on the scene.
A preliminary investigation indicates that the man may have been hit by a vehicle, police said.
When officers arrived on the scene, there were no witnesses or vehicles that appeared to be connected to the possible crash.
East Palatine Frontage Road at Milwaukee Avenue is closed as police investigate.
No one is in custody. The Prospect Heights Police Department asked anyone with information to call them at 847-398-5511.
Authorities did not immediately provide further information.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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