Frontman for the Christian metal band As I Lay Dying, Tim Lambesis, has pleaded guilty to charges that he attempted to hire a hitman to kill his estranged wife. The singer entered a guilty plea to one felony count of solicitation of murder in court Tuesday and could face up to nine years in prison.
Lambeis was arrested last May after he allegedly approached a trainer from his gym asking if he knew anyone who could kill his wife, Meggan Lambesis of Del Mar, who had filed for divorce in late 2012.
Prosecutors allege he then provided an undercover police officer, posing as a hitman, with $1,000 cash for expenses, his wife’s address and gate codes, pictures of her and specific dates for when the murder could be committed.
Details of Lambesis’ meetings with the undercover cop, as revealed in court transcripts, were shared online a few days ago. Testimony from the undercover officer named “Red” shed light on the prosecutions case.
“During our conversation he told me that he had picked out three dates that were good dates for him, for me to kill his wife. Those were the dates that he would have his children and therefore, he would not be a suspect in the case,” read the officer’s testimony.
According to Radio.com the undercover officer tried to get Lambesis to use the word “kill” or “dead” during their conversation, which he said was recorded, but Lambesis resisted. “But he continued to say repeatedly that, I want her gone. I want her never ever, ever to come back,” said the officer.
Then Lambesis started to walk away. “So, as he was leaving, we got about fifteen or twenty feet away from each other and he turned back to me and he goes, ‘Just to clarify, just so you know, I do want her dead.’” Lambesis was then arrested by other officers who were waiting on scene.
NBC San Diego reports, the deputy testified that Lambesis wanted his wife dead because she was going to get up to 60 percent of his income in the divorce and would not allow their children, ages 4, 8, and 10, to go on tour with him.
In the divorce records obtained by the Associated Press, Meggan Lambesis claims her husband had become “obsessed with bodybuilding” and was distracted with the children, even falling asleep once while watching them.
Lambesis is out on $3 million bail. Sentencing is scheduled for May 2.
