Jerry McDonald: Tennessee man's murder plot busted from his text messages
A Tennessee man was arrested after his wife discovered text messages on his phone purportedly exposing a conspiracy to murder her. According to court records, Jerry McDonald, 49, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was charged with solicitation of murder after his wife discovered his messages to another lady while he was knocked out drinking.
The wife, who was using McDonald's phone to call his workplace to inform them that he would be missing from work, reported the messages to the police, claiming that she was in danger. McDonald had exchanged conversations with Vanessa Nelson, 39, and detailed a scheme that would allow the two to stay together while also cashing in on his wife's life insurance and family's funds.
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‘Let’s kill her’: Tennessee man’s text messages reveal alleged murder plot https://t.co/Y1Buawf8GY
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Nelson once asked McDonald, “Do I need to kill her?” during a chat. “Please kill her, babe, please,” he said. “I’m begging you.” “I’m saying we kill her and I collect a million, and we live like the kings and queens we are.” he wrote in another chat, according to a court document. “So she has a million in life insurance.” Nelson continued. “Then let’s kill her,” McDonald replied. McDonald further stated that her father's safe has "over a million dollars" and that he would not be caught taking it.
In another text, Nelson responded, "We aren't criminals." "At least, that's not the case for me," she added. “I don’t either but I’m saying we have a way if we choose to. I’m not even joking. All I want is you, babe. That’s all I care about,” McDonald replied.
The near-victim admitted to the authorities that she had only been married to McDonald for two years but had known him for 20 years. Expressing her concerns for her safety, she said she has no idea what her husband is capable of. She further informed the authorities that she had never heard him talk about murdering someone for money or even joke about it.
According to an investigator, "I discovered Mr McDonald's demands to Ms Nelson to kill Victim 1 in the communications. I also discovered that Mr McDonald mentions the financial rewards that the two of them would receive if Victim 1 were to be slain."
McDonald was arrested and is being detained on a $75,000 bail at the Hamilton County prison. He is expected to appear in court on November 30.