81-year-old woman charged in murder-for-hire plot: Investigators

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HERNANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — An 81-year-old woman from Hernando, Florida, has been charged after the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said she conspired to have someone murdered.

Detectives received a tip earlier in January that said Elouise Leland was looking for someone to commit a murder on her behalf, at which point they launched an investigation.

An undercover officer posed as someone willing to carry out her request and met with Leland on Friday, Jan. 16. At the meeting, she revealed more details of the plan and agreed to pay the officer in exchange for committing a murder, police said.

Leland was arrested later that day without incident and taken to the county jail, CCSO said. She was charged with solicitation to commit first-degree murder and is being held without bond.

Throughout the investigation, police determined no additional parties were involved, and there is no present danger to the intended victim.

CCSO said they made the arrest with the help of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Crime

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