Ohio teacher Stephanie Demetrius allegedly offered student $2K to kill estranged husband in foiled murder-for-hire plot
Ohio Substitute Teacher Arrested for Alleged Murder-for-Hire Plot
An Ohio substitute teacher, Stephanie Demetrius, was apprehended for reportedly offering a high school student $2,000 to carry out a hit on her estranged husband in a shocking murder-for-hire scheme. The twisted plan was uncovered by the student’s mother, who found incriminating texts between her child and the substitute teacher at Academy for Urban Scholars High School and promptly alerted the authorities, as per court documents obtained by WSYX.
Sgt. James Fuqua of the Columbus Division of Police remarked, “This particular teacher was attempting to groom this young person into committing murder.” The parent’s vigilance in monitoring her child’s phone activity played a crucial role in thwarting the dangerous plot.
The disturbing incident unfolded on March 26 when Demetrius allegedly approached the student at the Columbus school and proposed the illicit arrangement, providing $250 as an initial payment towards the gruesome task.
Further evidence of the conspiracy emerged from a recorded phone conversation between Demetrius and the student, where she confirmed the remaining payment, indicating she owed an additional “15.” The teacher divulged details about her husband’s routine, emphasizing his work-from-home situation and the times when her children would be away from the residence.
According to court documents cited by The Columbus Dispatch, when questioned about the potential noise from the gunfire, Demetrius callously replied that the neighbors would not be bothered by it.
During her court appearance, Demetrius’s public defender refuted the allegations, denouncing them as a fabrication. Prosecutor Parker Schwartz highlighted the teacher’s history of possessive and controlling behavior, citing previous threats of violence towards her husband that led to the issuance of a protection order.
Currently held on a $150,000 bond, Demetrius has been ordered to refrain from any contact with her husband and the minor involved in the case. Her next court date is scheduled for April 11.
The Academy for Urban Scholars High School has not issued a statement in response to inquiries regarding the incident.
