Latest news with #murderForHire
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin wails in court as he comes face to face with wife who tried to kill him
Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin broke down in court as his estranged wife was sentenced for plotting his murder in a chilling murder-for-hire scheme. On Wednesday, a Nevada judge sentenced Victoria Goodwin, 32, to 36 to 90 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to conspiring to have her husband killed while he was on a filming trip in California. Court documents revealed that Victoria contacted Florida inmate Grant Amato - who is serving a life sentence for murdering his parents and brother - and offered him $11,500 to carry out the hit, with a $2,500 down payment already made. But, her devious plan unraveled when prison authorities seized Amato's phone and discovered disturbing communications between him and Victoria. Investigators said she instructed him to make Aaron's death look like an accident and provided detailed information about his travel plans and routines. At her sentencing, Victoria apologized to Aaron, saying she would 'always hold love for him' and promised he would 'never be in danger of her again.' Aaron, 49, wept as he described the betrayal of discovering that the 'love of his life' had not only cheated on him but had tried to have him killed. 'For seven years I thought I was in the most loving relationship of marriage with my best friend, someone who I trusted with my whole heart and laughed with every day,' the paranormal investigator said. Failing to hold back tears, he said after he found out his then-wife was 'cheating on him with several men,' he gave her options for a path forward. One option was divorce and another was 'trying to work things out' because he just 'loves her so much.' Aaron went on to recount how Victoria initially expressed regret and begged not to lose him. 'She didn't want to lose me,' he recalled. 'She was so sorry for the pain she caused me. At least that's what she told me.' He then revealed the extent of her betrayal. 'Now discovering she put a hit out to kill me more than once, got blackmailed, and spent almost our entire savings to keep it quiet.' He also told the court that Victoria had even 'got spiritually married' to the man she enlisted to kill him. In his emotional statement, Aaron said the experience has left him deeply scarred and in constant fear for his life. 'This has led me to fear for my life. I've hired armed security for weeks, not knowing if it was over or not,' he said. 'I cry every day, I feel so low. She grew me into a person I never was. I will always wonder why.' He accused Victoria of attempting to keep him from speaking at the sentencing, claiming he only learned of the murder plot when detectives informed him. 'Now, behind bars, she's trying to manipulate through lawyers and trying to silence me to not come here today,' he said. The murder plot was set to unfold in October 2024 while Aaron was filming Ghost Adventures in California. The show follows Aaron and three other men as they explore reportedly haunted locations and investigate paranormal activity. Prosecutors cited chilling messages recovered from Amato's phone. One message from Amato to a hitman read: 'He's asleep right now in the hotel room… I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update. Was it done?' In another message, Victoria wrote to Amato: 'Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce.' When questioned by authorities, Victoria claimed she first learned about Amato through a true crime documentary and began corresponding with him. She described their relationship as 'pen pals' and admitted that she and Aaron had been experiencing marital problems, which led her to 'connect' with Amato. According to divorce documents obtained by Court TV, Aaron and Victoria married in May 2020. Following her arrest, Aaron filed for divorce on March 12, stating: 'The views, tastes, likes, and dislikes of Husband and Wife have become incompatible to the extent that it has become impossible for them to live together as husband and wife in marital harmony. There is no possibility of reconciliation between Husband and Wife.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ghost Adventures star makes dramatic revelation as wife is sentenced for sick murder plot: 'Only half the story'
Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin has revealed that the public only knows 'half the story' about his wife's sick murder-for-hire plot against him. On Thursday, a Nevada judge sentenced 32-year-old Victoria Goodwin to between three and seven and a half years in prison after she pleaded guilty to conspiring to have her husband killed while he was away on a filming trip in California. Victoria hatched the plan after the couple began suffering marital problems and she started sleeping with other people. Following the court proceedings, the 49-year-old reality star spoke out in an exclusive interview with 8 News Now investigators, revealing that the public only knows a fraction of the story. 'I feel terrible. All of this is such a mess,' Aaron told the outlet after court. 'I haven't seen her since she dropped me off at the airport,' he added. 'So that was the first time I've even looked at her. It's tough.' 'But that's just half the story. Wait till you hear the rest of it.' The television star did not immediately respond to Daily Mail for comment. In a chilling twist, Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin (pictured with estranged wife) has revealed that the public only knows 'half the story' just hours after his wife was sentenced for a sick murder plot Aaron's dramatic revelation came moments after he broke down in court, tearfully recounting the heartbreak of discovering the 'love of his life' had not only betrayed him with several affairs, but conspired with a prisoner to have him killed. Court documents revealed that Victoria contacted Florida inmate Grant Amato - who is serving a life sentence for murdering his parents and brother - and offered him $11,500 to carry out the hit, with a $2,500 down payment already made. 'For seven years I thought I was in the most loving relationship of marriage with my best friend, someone who I trusted with my whole heart and laughed with every day,' Aaron said in the courtroom. Victoria, on the other hand, delivered an emotional apology in court to both to her parents and estranged husband, telling him she would 'always love him' and vowing he would 'never be in danger of her again'. 'I genuinely pray you find your joy and peace again. And I will bow out of your life forever to hopefully ease that process,' Victoria said before the judge handed down her sentence, as reported by 8 News Now. 'I'm sorry I broke us, and I'm consumed with regret every day,' she added. 'My absolute promise to you is that you will never see or hear from me.' 'I intend to leave the state of Nevada, and you and anyone else will never be in danger of me ever again.' The murder plot was set to unfold in October of 2024, while Aaron was in California filming Ghost Adventures, a paranormal reality series that follows him and three other investigators as they explore reportedly haunted locations across the country. Her devious plan unraveled only after prison authorities seized inmate Amato's phone and discovered disturbing communications between him and Victoria. Aaron has revealed that he was completely blindsided about the murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by his own wife - only learning the shocking truth when detectives informed him after her arrest Investigators revealed that she instructed him to make Aaron's death appear accidental, even providing detailed information about his travel plans and daily routines. Prosecutors cited chilling messages recovered from Amato's phone, in which one message from Amato to a hitman read: 'He's asleep right now in the hotel room… I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update. Was it done?' In another message, Victoria wrote to Amato: 'Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce.' When questioned by authorities, Victoria claimed she first learned about Amato through a true crime documentary and began corresponding with him. She described their relationship as 'pen pals' and admitted that ongoing marital problems with had led her to 'connect' with him. Aaron has revealed that he was completely blindsided about the murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by his own wife, only learning the shocking truth when detectives informed him after her arrest, as reported by The New York Post. On March 6, Victoria was arrested in connection with solicitation to commit murder and murder conspiracy, according to booking information in Clark County. Following her arrest, Aaron filed for divorce. Victoria eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. In a statement on March 12, the Discovery Channel star said: 'The views, tastes, likes, and dislikes of Husband and Wife have become incompatible to the extent that it has become impossible for them to live together as husband and wife in marital harmony.' 'There is no possibility of reconciliation between Husband and Wife,' it concluded. On Thursday, Aaron broke down in tears at his wife's sentencing. Failing to hold back tears, he said that after he found out his then-wife was 'cheating on him with several men', he gave her options for a path forward. One option was divorce and another was 'trying to work things out', because he just 'loves her so much', Aaron said. The TV star recounted how Victoria initially expressed regret and begged not to lose him. 'She didn't want to lose me,' he recalled. 'She was so sorry for the pain she caused me. At least that's what she told me.' 'Now discovering she put a hit out to kill me more than once, got blackmailed, and spent almost our entire savings to keep it quiet,' he added, speaking of the extent of her betrayal. He also told the court that Victoria had even 'got spiritually married' to Amato. In his emotional statement, Aaron said the experience has left him deeply scarred. 'This has led me to fear for my life. I've hired armed security for weeks, not knowing if it was over or not,' he said. 'I cry every day, I feel so low. She grew me into a person I never was. I will always wonder why.' Aaron accused his ex-wife of attempting to keep him from speaking at the sentencing, claiming he had only recently become aware of the murder plot. 'Now, behind bars, she's trying to manipulate through lawyers and trying to silence me to not come here today,' he said. He then addressed the judge directly, indicating that a prison sentence felt appropriate given the gravity of what happened. 'This person over here, I don't know at all. Not one bit,' Aaron said, as reported by US Weekly. 'The fact that this person did all this to me with no worry, no care or love in her heart for me, I will never feel the same. I will never feel safe or be the same,' he added, noting how she is claiming to be remorseful now that she's been caught. 'I thought whether she got minimum or maximum time, I still won't feel safe whenever she's released,' he told the judge. 'I feel like this deserves prison time. I don't know. So, I just leave it in your hands, Your Honor, and thank you.' According to divorce documents obtained by Court TV, Aaron and Victoria married in May 2020. They do not share any children.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ghost Adventurer star wails in court as he comes face to face with wife who tried to kill him
Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin broke down in court as his estranged wife was sentenced for plotting his murder in a chilling murder-for-hire scheme. On Wednesday, a Nevada judge sentenced Victoria Goodwin, 32, to 36 to 90 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to conspiring to have her husband killed while he was on a filming trip in California. Court documents revealed that Victoria contacted Florida inmate Grant Amato - who is serving a life sentence for murdering his parents and brother - and offered him $11,500 to carry out the hit, with a $2,500 down payment already made. But, her devious plan unraveled when prison authorities seized Amato's phone and discovered disturbing communications between him and Victoria. Investigators said she instructed him to make Aaron's death look like an accident and provided detailed information about his travel plans and routines. At her sentencing, Victoria apologized to Aaron, saying she would 'always hold love for him' and promised he would 'never be in danger of her again.' Aaron, 49, wept as he described the betrayal of discovering that the 'love of his life' had not only cheated on him but had tried to have him killed. 'For seven years I thought I was in the most loving relationship of marriage with my best friend, someone who I trusted with my whole heart and laughed with every day,' the paranormal investigator said. Failing to hold back tears, he said after he found out his then-wife was 'cheating on him with several men,' he gave her options for a path forward. One option was divorce and another was 'trying to work things out' because he just 'loves her so much.' Aaron went on to recount how Victoria initially expressed regret and begged not to lose him. 'She didn't want to lose me,' he recalled. 'She was so sorry for the pain she caused me. At least that's what she told me.' He then revealed the extent of her betrayal. 'Now discovering she put a hit out to kill me more than once, got blackmailed, and spent almost our entire savings to keep it quiet.' He also told the court that Victoria had even 'got spiritually married' to the man she enlisted to kill him. In his emotional statement, Aaron said the experience has left him deeply scarred and in constant fear for his life. 'This has led me to fear for my life. I've hired armed security for weeks, not knowing if it was over or not,' he said. 'I cry every day, I feel so low. She grew me into a person I never was. I will always wonder why.' He accused Victoria of attempting to keep him from speaking at the sentencing, claiming he only learned of the murder plot when detectives informed him. 'Now, behind bars, she's trying to manipulate through lawyers and trying to silence me to not come here today,' he said. The murder plot was set to unfold in October 2024 while Aaron was filming Ghost Adventures in California. The show follows Aaron and three other men as they explore reportedly haunted locations and investigate paranormal activity. Prosecutors cited chilling messages recovered from Amato's phone. One message from Amato to a hitman read: 'He's asleep right now in the hotel room… I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update. Was it done?' In another message, Victoria wrote to Amato: 'Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce.' When questioned by authorities, Victoria claimed she first learned about Amato through a true crime documentary and began corresponding with him. She described their relationship as 'pen pals' and admitted that she and Aaron had been experiencing marital problems, which led her to 'connect' with Amato. According to divorce documents obtained by Court TV, Aaron and Victoria married in May 2020. Following her arrest, Aaron filed for divorce on March 12, stating: 'The views, tastes, likes, and dislikes of Husband and Wife have become incompatible to the extent that it has become impossible for them to live together as husband and wife in marital harmony. There is no possibility of reconciliation between Husband and Wife.'
CBS News
22-05-2025
- CBS News
South Florida car designer to the stars targeted in murder-for-hire plot relieved after 3 men convicted
A South Florida car designer for the stars has a remarkable story of survival after he was targeted in a murder-for-hire plot in 2019. Alex Vega, who realizes who could have been killed, is expressing relief now that three men, including his former business partner Rolando Ramirez, have been found guilty of federal charges in a murder-for-hire conspiracy. Vega and Ramirez had been business competitors and partners for years before they had a falling out over Exclusive Motoring Worldwide in Doral. Vega, who customized cars, had owned the business, but then Ramirez, who did auto body work, took it over in an agreement to resolve Vega's outstanding debts to him, according to CBS Miami news partner The Miami Herald. Vega rebuilt his reputation as a custom-car designer and opened The Auto Firm in Kendall. "Actually today is one day I thank god for finally. There is a closure," he said. Vega said he prayed for this outcome. "I am glad I live in the United States and we have laws and 12 jurors saw all the evidence and made sure there wasn't a doubt," he said. Fight for survival after shooting On Aug. 27, 2019, Vega was shot three times by a masked gunman as he was parking his Land Rover in the driveway of his Kendale Lakes home. "I was shot in the torso and one by my spine and one shot by my heart and one in the shoulder. This was a very traumatic, very bad experience," he said. Vega said he endured a number of surgeries for a year. "One of my lungs was collapsed and I could not really breathe. All I wanted was to not die in front of my wife and kids. I just wanted to survive," he said. Vega said he was targeted after a huge disagreement with Ramirez about their business. "I already saw the person he was and I did not want to be associated with it," he said. Moving on with his life Vega said he was given an 8-year-old police-train Belgian Malinois for her personal security. "He senses any gunpowder and anyone who comes with intentions," he said. "It's just how he trained, he is a Marine dog." Vega said after the shooting, he feels like he will have to have his guard up for the rest of his life. "I definitely have to live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder because I lived it. Iit's unfortunate. I am not into bad things. I have a clean business and I work very hard," he said. Vega, who has owned the auto firm since 2009 has designed cars for a number of celebrities including Usain Bolt and Marc Anthony. He also owns the Avorza vodka company.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- CBS News
Man pleads guilty in murder-for-hire plot in which he planned to feed victim to hogs
A man has pleaded guilty to a murder-for-hire plot in which he planned to feed the victim's remains to hogs. Jeal Sutherland, 57, pleaded guilty to using an interstate commerce facility in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a man who lives in the Albany, New York, area — a charge for which he could face up to 10 years in prison. Sutherland entered the plea Wednesday in federal court in northern New York. Court documents said Sutherland attempted to arrange the murder of a man who is the father of a child with Sutherland's ex-partner. As part of his plot, Sutherland agreed to forgive the debt of the person hired to do the killing. Sutherland also contacted a person who he believed was a hog farmer, intending to pay him for the use of his farm to dispose of the victim's remains by feeding them to the hogs. But according to court documents, the farmer was actually an undercover FBI agent. Sutherland was arrested in late January and the intended victim wasn't hurt. Prior to his arrest, Sutherland had also hired a different man to put a dead Canada goose with a threatening letter in its beak on the doorstep of the intended victim's mother, the Justice Department said. "Jeal Sutherland hatched a vicious plot to kill a romantic rival and intimidate his victim's family," United States Attorney John A. Sarcone said in a statement. In addition to prison time, Sutherland could face a fine of up to $250,000 and supervised release of up to three years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2025.
