Hear from the target of an alleged murder-for-hire plot
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Timothy Hanes, the Colorado Springs man at the center of a murder-for-hire plot, spoke exclusively with 13 Investigates Wednesday.
Hanes' ex-fiance, 33-year-old Vanessa Lavaty, faces murder in the first degree-solicitation charges, a class-two felony.
"In the last 20, almost 30 hours everything has just completely changed," Hanes said. "She contracted to have me killed. I haven't slept since I found out about this."
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by 13 Investigates, Lavaty's live-in boyfriend Marty Jorgensen went to the police on Monday to report that she had asked him to find someone to kill Hanes.
According to the affidavit, Lavaty had a 2-year-old daughter with Hanes. Jorgensen told police he believed custody of her daughter coupled with her hatred of Hanes were motivating factors.
"The safety of my daughter is the only thing that's going through my mind right now," Hanes told 13 Investigates. "It's the only thing that matters to me. It's why I'm here to make sure she doesn't get bonded out."
READ: Arrest Affidavit: Colorado Springs woman arrested in murder for hire plot
According to the affidavit, Jorgensen said Lavaty thought he had "connections" to people who would complete a murder for hire because of his criminal background.
The affidavit revealed Lavaty was prepared to pay between $2,000 and $4,000 to get Hanes killed.
In the affidavit, Jorgensen said he initially didn't take her seriously but after several weeks realized she meant what she said.
The affidavit says Lavaty told Jorgensen, "I really want this asshole dead" and that she wanted Hanes "6 feet under."
According to the affidavit, Jorgensen worked with CSPD's Metro Vice and Narcotics unit to begin an investigation and an operations plan was developed.
The affidavit reveals on Monday, May 16, Jorgensen introduced Lavaty to an undercover investigator who posed as his "contact" that would complete the murder-for-hire. During the interaction, the affidavit says Lavaty had several opportunities to back out of the plan and she didn't.
Tuesday, Lavaty was arrested and taken into custody.
"There needs to be as much attention put on this so that if there is any plan B or if there is anyone out there and it starts getting attention, they're going to be a heck of a lot more hesitant to want to follow through on anything," Hanes said.
Wednesday afternoon, Hanes told 13 Investigates if Lavaty is granted bond, he will have no choice but to disappear with his daughter out of fear for their safety.
"I have to worry about what is good for my daughter now and make sure that I'm in that courtroom to tell the judge that 'there's no way on god's green earth that she should have a right to roam free until she gets the help that she needs," Hanes said.
Lavaty was given a $75,000 bond by an El Paso County judge on Wednesday. However, at the time of publication, she has not posted bail.
