Man Charged After Allegedly Arranging a Hitman to Kill a Family Member

(KNSI) — A man from Grey Eagle is facing charges after allegedly trying to arrange a hitman to kill a family member.

According to court documents filed in Todd County, 39-year-old Robert Charles Thomas met with an undercover agent in a Long Prairie grocery store parking lot to lay out the plan on April 6th.

The criminal complaint says Thomas told a confidential informant about a murder for hire plan he concocted in 2021, but it was never carried out. The target was romantically involved with Thomas’s wife, and he also believed he stood to inherit a large amount of money and property from them upon their death. The informant went to local police, who asked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for help. The BCA then arranged for the informant and Thomas to meet under the guise of being connected to someone who could carry out the plan.

The complaint states Thomas met with the hitman in their vehicle to cook up a new scheme to kill this family member. The hitman was actually an undercover agent, and the vehicle was wired for sound and video. The two laid down the financial terms of the plot before discussing any specifics for how the hit should be carried out. Thomas said he was left in bad financial shape after the last time he tried to pay someone to kill this person, but promised he would inherit the assets and sell them for cash. The agreed to sum of $50,000 would be payable upon death. Thomas promised he would not “take care of it himself,” and the two shook hands.

Thomas is accused of then giving the would-be assassin specific information about the family member’s habits, places they frequent, and what kind of car they drive. He said he didn’t want them seriously injured or maimed. He wanted them “just gone” and regretted not killing the person himself when he could.

Court papers say the agent gave Thomas a phone number in case he changed his mind and that he had until Monday, April 10th, to call it off, which he did not. Thomas was arrested later that day while he was at work. In a sworn statement, Thomas “largely acknowledged that all of the events stated herein happened as described.”

He is charged with conspiracy to commit first degree premeditated murder. Unconditional bail was set at $500,000. Thomas’s next hearing is May 1st.

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