Kentucky doctor accused of plotting to have ex killed in delivery of ‘Christmas flowers’ after custody battle

She took care of children for a residing, till federal prosecutors allege she tried to pay a stranger $7,000 to deal with her former husband — for good.

A Kentucky pediatrician was remanded with out bail Thursday after the Justice Division accused her of plotting to have her ex-husband killed in an alleged murder-for-hire that concerned nurses in her workplace, a former nanny and an undercover operative.

Dr. Stephanie Russell, of Louisville, allegedly reached out to her subordinates at Kidz Life Pediatrics for assist discovering a hitman earlier than one among them alerted the FBI.

FLORIDA WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BITCOIN MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT

DOJ paperwork allege she referred to delivering “Christmas flowers” as a euphemism for assassinating her ex, who had secured custody of their kids after a court docket battle. 

Reached by cellphone, her ex-husband Rick Crabtree instructed Fox Information Digital he couldn’t remark as a result of the investigation remained ongoing. 

The federal indictment alleges that the battle for custody of their two kids was a motive within the plot. She accused her ex of kid abuse, prompting a Louisville police investigation that first uncovered rumors of the alleged plans from the previous nanny, in keeping with court docket paperwork.

The DOJ says Dr. Russell referred to “Christmas flowers” ceaselessly in discussions in regards to the alleged murder-for-hire plot.
(Justice Division)

MICHIGAN WOMAN SENTENCED AFTER TRYING TO HIRE HITMAN FOR HUSBAND ONLINE

A Louisville detective interviewed Crabtree, who instructed her he believed Russell “was trying to rent an murderer to kill him with a purpose to take full custody of their two kids,” in keeping with the legal criticism. The detective reached out to the FBI.

One witness “assumed Russell was joking, till Russell requested…if he/she knew ‘actually dangerous individuals’ who might do away with Crabtree,” the criticism alleges.

However the FBI couldn’t corroborate the homicide plot allegations, in keeping with the criticism, and Louisville police discovered no proof in assist of Russell’s accusations that her ex had been abusing their kids. Authorities dropped each investigations, till a non-public investigator uncovered extra info on Russell’s alleged efforts to have her husband assassinated.

The PI discovered two unnamed witnesses, each linked to Russell’s medical apply, who cooperated with the FBI. One performed together with the alleged plot, going so far as claiming they’d discovered a possible hitman earlier than backing out and claiming the hitman had “died.” The witness additionally give up their job at Russell’s workplace an tried to chop off contact.

Dr. Russell allegedly mentioned the plot with a number of staff at her Louisville pediatric workplace.
(Justice Division)

MICHIGAN WOMAN USED FAKE ‘RENT-A-HITMAN’ SITE IN BID TO HAVE EX-HUSBAND KILLED, AUTHORITIES SAY

However Russell allegedly reached out once more about “flowers,” and the alarmed former worker put her in contact with a brand new purported hitman, who was actually an undercover FBI worker.

In mid-Could, Russell allegedly requested the contact to kill her ex and make it seem like a suicide for $7,000.

The operative retrieved half of the cost from a lab specimen drop field outdoors Russell’s workplace on Could 18, in keeping with court docket paperwork. The subsequent day, she was booked into the Oldham County Jail in La Grange, information present. She was ordered held with out bail.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

She faces costs of utilizing interstate commerce amenities for the tried fee of a murder-for-hire. The choose scheduled an arraignment for June 16.

U.S. Lawyer Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky mentioned she might withstand 10 years in federal jail if convicted.