Arrest Affidavit: Colorado Springs woman arrested in murder for hire plot
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A Colorado Springs woman faces murder in the first degree-solicitation charge after allegedly asking her boyfriend to find someone to kill her ex-boyfriend.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by 13 Investigates, Marty Jorgensen went to the police on Monday to report his live-in girlfriend, Vanessa Lavaty, had asked him to find someone to kill her ex-boyfriend Timothy 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.
Jorgensen told police he had been dating Lavaty for one year and in the last four months, she had been asking him to find someone to kill Hanes.
According to the affidavit, Jorgensen has a criminal history and believed Lavaty thought he had "connections" to people who would complete a murder for hire.
In the affidavit, Jorgensen said he initially didn't take her seriously when she said she "wanted Mr. Hanes dead as her being emotional and mad at him."
However, the affidavit says Lavaty later told him, "I really want this asshole dead" and that she wanted Hanes "6 feet under."
A few weeks after the comment, the affidavit says Jorgensen became more uncomfortable and was upset that she actually believed he knew people who would kill someone for money.
Leading up to reporting the incident to police, Jorgensen said Lavaty continued to make comments like "I want it done" and that she wanted him buried.
According to the affidavit, Jorgensen became convinced Lavaty was serious and became concerned she was going to find someone who would actually complete the murder. He told police he knew someone who worked at a mechanic shop who would complete the murder.
In the affidavit, Jorgensen said Lavaty liked the idea because she could pay for the murder with her credit card and use the mechanic shop as a cover. Investigators say Jorgensen told her the "job" would cost between $2,000 and $4,000.
The day Jorgensen claimed he was going to meet his contact, the affidavit said he actually reported the plot to law enforcement.
From there, CSPD Metro Vice and Narcotics began an investigation and an operations plan was developed.
According to the affidavit, Jorgensen agreed to have "Josh," an undercover investigator, meet Lavaty at their apartment to receive a $500 down payment in cash before the murder.
On the evening of Monday, May 16, the affidavit says Jorgenson wore a wire to record his conversation with Lavaty. During that interaction, they discussed the murder-for-hire plot.
From there, the affidavit says Jorgenson and Lavaty went to a Taco Bell on N. Union Blvd. to meet with the contact.
According to the affidavit, on at least three occasions during the conversation, Lavaty was told her decision would be final and she was given an opportunity to not move forward. However, each time Lavaty indicated she wanted to move forward with the plans.
The affidavit says Lavaty told them she would be contacted Tuesday, May 17 to see if she still wanted to move forward. That day, she received a text asking if she wanted to move forward.
According to court documents, she said "yeah."
Lavaty was later arrested Tuesday.
Watch KRDO NewsChannel 13 at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. for an exclusive interview with the man Lavaty allegedly tried to have killed.
