Substitute teacher in Columbus indicted in murder-for-hire plot
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A high school substitute teacher suspected in a murder-for-hire plot has been indicted by a grand jury in Franklin County.
According to court records, 44-year-old Stephanie Demetrius has been charged with one count of conspiracy, a first-degree felony, and one count of violating a protection order, a third-degree offense. The charges stem from allegations that she agreed to pay a high school student $2,000 to kill her husband, with whom she is separated.
Demetrius was a substitute teacher at Urban Scholars High School, a charter school on East Broad Street, where she allegedly approached the student and solicited him by initially giving him a $250 down payment. Police said additional digital information was collected, including a recording of a phone conversation between Demetrius and the student.
During the phone call, Demetrius reportedly agreed to sending the rest of the payment, and that she owed an additional “15”. She also noted her husband worked from home and what times the kids would be out of the house.
Police said that when the student asked if the neighbors would hear gunfire, Demetrius allegedly said that they don’t care about the neighbors. For a previous report on this story view the video player above.
CPD Sgt. James Fuqua told NBC4 that the mother of the student had checked his phone and discovered messages between him and Demetrius. The mother and son then came forward to police. Though the extent Demetrius’ relationship with the student is unknown, Fuqua said there appeared to be prior history between the two.
According to reports with the Columbus Division of Police, Demetrius has twice violated an order of protection filed by her husband. In the report the complainant alleged Demetrius, who reportedly still has a key to her former residence in Dublin, let his dog out and turned on the gas to the outdoor patio, started a fire in the basement, and another time arrived to pick up clothing, but left without officers escorting her.
Court documents also stated that Demetrius, who was issued a $150,000 bond in municipal court, has also tried to stab and run over her husband, and attempt to set his house on fire.
Demetrius was a registered substitute teacher according to the state’s board of education database. No charges have been filed against the teenaged student.