Trial Begins in Alleged Murder-for-Hire Case

Police said they have a recording of the woman talking about having her husband killed.

The trial has begun for a Connecticut woman accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill her ex-husband during a child custody dispute with millions of dollars reportedly at stake.

A Hartford Superior Court jury began hearing evidence on Tuesday in the case of 39-year-old Tiffany Stevens of Bloomfield, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.

Prosecutors said Stevens paid a maintenance man $5,000 to kill her ex-husband, Eric Stevens, in 2012.

Authorities said the would-be hit man didn't follow through with the plan, Instead he told Eric Stevens what his ex-wife allegedly hired him to do, gave him a copy of a recording he made and told police he accepted the money but never had any intention of harming the man, according to the warrant for Tiffany Stevens' arrest.

Police began investigating after Eric Stevens contacted them on July 6, said he believed he was being targeted and gave police the recording, police said.

In that recording, Tiffany Stevens and the other man had a short conversation in which she asked the maintenance man when he would "take him out," and said "I've already paid you $5,000," according to the warrant.

Police have said the custody case winner apparently would control a $50 million fund linked to their daughter's care. The custody case remains pending.

The first two witnesses were members of the Simsbury police department. Then, the man Tiffany Stevens allegedly hired, took the stand and said getting involved in this is one of the "biggest mistakes of his adult life."

Tiffany Stevens remains free on $1 million bail and still has legal custody of her daughter.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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