DOVER, N.H. -- A new Ipswich woman has been charged in a murder-for-hire plot.
Authorities said she hired a hit man to kill the wife of a prominent Manchester attorney, but her plans quickly unraveled.
Kathryn Sotnik reported from Dover that, according to newly released court documents, Katherine Mendola, 27, of New Ipswich, is accused of putting a hit out on Wendy Branch, the wife of prominent Manchester attorney Bertram "BJ" Branch.The documents said Mendola wanted Wendy Branch killed so that she could continue a relationship with Bertram Branch.
Wendy Branch's sister denied the relationship existed."When I heard the news, it made it sound like there had been an affair between my brother-in-law and this person, and I know how upsetting this has been for Wendy and BJ, and to have that added into it is absolutely untrue," Leslie Nixon said.The court documents said that police were tipped off by Mendola's roommate, who is a confidential informant.
They also showed that an undercover state trooper posed as a hit man and had several conversations with Mendola.The trooper reported that he drove with Mendola to the Branch's Northwood home, that she paid him $1,000 for a down payment and that Mendola requested that Wendy Branch be shot in the head so that the killing would be made to look like a hunting accident."This woman was obsessed with my brother-in-law -- was a client. She developed an obsession.
Police found out, thank God," Nixon said.A statement released by Bertram Branch's law firm Thursday stated:"Attorney Branch was representing Ms. Mendola professionally, and had no other relationship with her."Because of his concern about her behavior, Bertram Branch said he arranged to only see her when other personnel at the firm were present.
"It's horrible -- absolutely horrible. My sister and brother-in-law are devastated," Nixon said.
Mendola is being held on $150,000 bail at the Strafford County Jail in Dover. Labels: breaking news os9user murder for hire plot kathryn sotnik
|
