No Prosecution Of Boynton Beach Woman Accused Of Trying To Hire Hit Man
BOYNTON BEACH (CBSMiami) – A Boynton Beach woman who police say tried hiring them to kill her husband and a friend will not be prosecuted.
The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office decided Thursday not to file charges against Annybelkis Terrero, 38. She was arrested Oct. 18 on two counts of solicitation of murder and two counts of bribery.
State attorney spokesman Mike Edmondson said Boynton Beach Police had probable cause to make the arrest, but there were legal issues that arose by the time the investigation was completed. He declined to speak further about those issues.
The investigation began several weeks ago when officers from the Boynton Beach police department's narcotics division went to the home of 38-year old Annybelkis Terrero to check out her neighbor's complaints of drug activity and prostitution.
After meeting with officers, Terrero agreed to become a confidential informant.
When the officers went back to her home to have her sign the informant paperwork, she reportedly gave them information about a drug dealer and agreed to show them where she lived. While driving to the location, Terrero allegedly told the officers that she hated her husband, 57-year old Neil Logan and wanted him dead. She also wanted a male acquaintance of her's, William Straub, dead. Police said she claimed to have a plan in place.
"She did not say why. Just that it was over and she wanted him dead," said Boynton Beach police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater.
Slater told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "Her husband was dumbfounded to say the least. He had no idea."
William Straub, the acquaintance she allegedly expressed interest in killing, said he doesn't believe the charges.
"She has a severe drug and alcohol problem and when she drinks she'll say crazy things. You know, she took the Lindbergh baby, she, you know, was on mother ship, you know—she's out there," said Straub.
Playing along, the officers implied that they knew someone who could help her get it done. The department said at the time both officers were wearing tactical vests which identified them as police officers.
"What's striking is that at no point was she unaware that that these were Boynton Beach police officers. In every single meeting they were wearing tactical vests that identified them as police officers," said Slater.
Terrero then reportedly gave them a down payment.
"At that point she provided stolen credit cards and said use them quickly because they are hot," said Slater.
A meeting was set for around 7:45 p.m. Thursday in a shopping center parking lot at 501 S.E. 18th Ave. Terrero brought a fully-loaded Remington shotgun and ammunition to the meeting, and offered it to the hit man, an undercover police officer, as a down payment and sign of good faith. She then agreed to pay a total of $30,000, and said the money would come from her husband's life insurance policy.
"She said she was going to pay $10,000 up front and $20,000 later from the policy," said Slater.
Terrero was arrested and taken to jail.
Slater said this case was reminiscent of another in the town a few years back. Newlywed Dalia Dippolito paid an undercover cop who she thought was a hit man $3,000 to kill her husband Michael.
"We saw this back in 2009 with another case and at the end of the day we have someone who is alive, so we are gratified" said Slater.
