MOTW

We all know crooks aren't too smart, by and large, and thus often get caught due to poor planning.  But I'm still intrigued by the local story of Juan Carlos Cruz.  He was a chef on the Food Network--you'd figure he'd at least have something going.

As far as I can gather, he solicited some homeless men on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica (home of the homeless) to kill his wife. He would go to a signing party for his latest cookbook, The Love Diet, and return home to find her dead, in an apparent botched burglary.  Cruz first suggested they slit her throat but later though it might be better to strangle her--he'd prefer it not to be messy, but whatever works.

One of the homeless guys, David Carrington, apparently accepted.  As payment, he got ten $100 bills cut in half, and would get the other halves when the deed was done.  Cruz also gave him doggie treats to keep the dogs quiet.  He definitely didn't want them hurt.

The reason for the murder was even more bizarre.  He and his wife had attempted to have kids and failed. Having spent a couple hundred thousand in fertility treatments, they were deeply in debt.  So Cruz decided to kill his wife to save her from the heartbreak.  It was, he felt, the merciful thing to do.

Unfortunately for Cruz, Carrington was cooperating with the cops.  The other homeless guy had been arrested and told the authorities his friend was being paid to commit murder.  Thus, the cops were able to videotape Cruz and Carrington as they went over the plan, which included photos of the residence, escape routes, security codes, throwaway cell phones and locations of building surveillance cameras.

I have a few questions.

First, if you want to hire someone to kill your wife, do you really want to go with the homeless?  If they were good at stuff, they'd probably have a job.

Second, $1000?  I know he was in debt, but how often do you need to kill your wife?  I guess you get what you pay for.

Third, so they couldn't have kids.  I wonder if his wife is now thinking it's just as well?  I'm guessing they wouldn't have made great parents.

Fourth, when Cruz gets out of jail in about five years, I wonder if the Food Network will rehire him?  Or maybe he'll get an offer for a book on jailhouse cuisine?