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Washington father accused of trying to hire someone to kill wife, daughter
Washington father accused of trying to hire someone to kill wife, daughter
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Washington -- A Washington state father is accused of trying to hire someone to kill his wife and four-year-old daughter.
Officials with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office told KIRO 42-year-old Jeff Lytle sent a text message to an individual named "Shayne," directing him to kill his family for insurance money. Officials said Lytle promised to share the $1.5 million with Shayne.
KIRO was able to obtain court documents containing these text messages:
According to KIRO, Lytle accidentally sent the messages to his former employer by mistake. Police were then called.
Lytle was arrested at his home on Wednesday, February 8th on two counts of criminal solicitation for murder in the first degree, domestic violence. Bail was set at $1 million during his court appearance Thursday.
KIRO spoke with Lytle's roommate, who wondered whether this could be a misunderstanding.
"He's not going to do something like that," said German Ellano.
According to KIRO, court documents show Lytle told investigators he wrote the text messages to "vent" -- and that he had no intention of sending them to anyone. He even told investigators maybe his four-year-old daughter sent the text messages.
Prosecutors believe Lytle sent them and wanted his wife and daughter killed.