Wife Of Ex-Mayor Charged In Murder Plot For Life Insurance

An affidavit for the arrest of Stephanie Rogers of Monticello, a former political candidate and wife of former Mayor Joe Rogers, says she plotted to kill his ex-wife and then Rogers himself so she could collect on a life insurance policy and inherit his business.

The affidavit indicates the person she talked to about finding a hired killer was a police informant and recorded phone calls with Rogers. All the details are here by Patty Wooten in SEARK Today.

A State Police investigation led to an arrest last week, but details of the conspiracy weren't revealed then. No hits were carried out, though the affidavit also indicated Stephanie Rogers had once attempted to loosen the lug nuts on her husband's vehicle, apparently to cause an accident,but he left in another vehicle.

Rogers said she needed to have the ex-wife, Debbie Rogers, killed prior to her husband, Joe Rogers, because Debbie Rogers would be the recipient of life insurance policies and obtain control Joe Rogers' business, according to the affidavit.

The informant stated that Rogers told her that after Debbie Rogers was killed, she (Stephanie) would "take care of Joe" then receive the insurance policies along with Joe Rogers' business, according to the affidavit.

On October 17, the confidential informant contacted Stephanie Rogers. The informant recorded their conversation. State Police Special Agent Bo Norris and Monticello Police Detective Kenny Cox were present when the the conversation was recorded.

The confidential informant told Rogers that she had an uncle that could "take out" Debbie Rogers. Rogers asked if the uncle could be trusted, according to the affidavit.

There's lots more, including a discussion about having Debbie Rogers killed when she went to church.

Stephanie Rogers is being held under a $500,000 bond. Joe Rogers is again seeking the mayor's office in this year's election.