Ohio – An Ohio replacement educator was arrested last week and charged with felony conspiracy to commit murder.
According to authorities, the woman attempted to convince a high school student to marry her husband while their divorce was pending.
On March 26, 2025, the defendant, later identified as 44-year-old Stefanie, allegedly approached an unidentified scholar at the Academy for Urban Scholars High School and offered $2,000 to kill her spouse.
She allegedly provided a 10% down payment and discussed specifics, such as her partner’s work-from-home schedule and times when their family members would be away, to facilitate the crime.
The plot was uncovered when the student’s mother discovered incriminating text messages on their phone and notified authorities.
A recorded conversation between the educator and the student backs up the allegations, with the woman assuring the student about the remaining payment and discussing logistics.
Following the student’s report, Ohio authorities launched an investigation, and the woman’s involvement in the alleged plot was revealed. At her arraignment, her public defender denied the charges, calling them fabricated.
The defendant is currently being held on a $150,000 bond, with the condition that she not contact her estranged partner or the scholar involved. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 11, 2025.
Court records show that the woman filed for divorce from her husband, Carington, in April 2024. In September 2017, she filed for divorce, but the case was later closed.
The couple has children together, and the defendant’s spouse has previously sought emergency custody, citing allegations of assault, arson, and property damage against the woman.
After her arrest, the high school terminated her employment. The school has expressed its commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment and is working with Ohio authorities on the ongoing investigation.
