An Ohio substitute teacher has been arrested for allegedly attempting to hire a high school student to murder her estranged husband, offering the teen $2,000 for the job. Authorities said the plot was uncovered after the student's mother found incriminating text messages and alerted law enforcement.
Stephanie Demetrius , 44, was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with first-degree conspiracy, according to court documents. The mother of four appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court on Thursday morning, where her public defender denied the allegations, dismissing them as a fabrication.
Police say Demetrius approached the student at the Academy for Urban Scholars High School in Columbus on March 26, proposing the murder-for-hire plan and paying the teen an initial $250. She later confirmed the remaining payment in a recorded phone call, stating she owed an additional “15.”
“This particular teacher was attempting to groom this young person into committing murder,” Sgt. James Fuqua of the Columbus Division of Police said. He emphasized the importance of the student's mother stepping in, stating, “Without their help, some of this might not have come to light. This was a situation where a parent was able to capture things inside this young person’s phone and contact authorities.”
Demetrius, who has been married since 2004 and is in the process of divorcing her husband, allegedly gave the student details about his work-from-home schedule and when their children would be out of the house. Court documents also indicate she dismissed concerns about gunfire, stating that the neighbors “don’t care.”
Prosecutor Parker Schwartz described Demetrius as displaying “possessive and controlling behavior,” pointing to prior threats she allegedly made against her husband, which led him to obtain a protection order.
The school has yet to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, Demetrius remains in custody on a $150,000 bond and is barred from contacting both her estranged husband and the student involved in the case. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 11.
Stephanie Demetrius , 44, was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with first-degree conspiracy, according to court documents. The mother of four appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court on Thursday morning, where her public defender denied the allegations, dismissing them as a fabrication.
Police say Demetrius approached the student at the Academy for Urban Scholars High School in Columbus on March 26, proposing the murder-for-hire plan and paying the teen an initial $250. She later confirmed the remaining payment in a recorded phone call, stating she owed an additional “15.”
“This particular teacher was attempting to groom this young person into committing murder,” Sgt. James Fuqua of the Columbus Division of Police said. He emphasized the importance of the student's mother stepping in, stating, “Without their help, some of this might not have come to light. This was a situation where a parent was able to capture things inside this young person’s phone and contact authorities.”
Demetrius, who has been married since 2004 and is in the process of divorcing her husband, allegedly gave the student details about his work-from-home schedule and when their children would be out of the house. Court documents also indicate she dismissed concerns about gunfire, stating that the neighbors “don’t care.”
Prosecutor Parker Schwartz described Demetrius as displaying “possessive and controlling behavior,” pointing to prior threats she allegedly made against her husband, which led him to obtain a protection order.
The school has yet to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, Demetrius remains in custody on a $150,000 bond and is barred from contacting both her estranged husband and the student involved in the case. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 11.
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