Florida Woman, 81, Arrested in Alleged Murder-for-Hire Plot

Historic Citrus County Courthouse, Inverness, Florida. Photo by John Bradley (Ebyabe), CC BY-SA 2.5 / GFDL via Wikimedia Commons.

Elouise Ruth Leland, 81, was arrested in Citrus County, Florida, after authorities say she attempted to hire a contract killer who turned out to be an undercover law enforcement officer. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation began after information surfaced suggesting Leland was seeking someone to carry out a murder. Detectives arranged for an undercover officer to pose as a hired assassin and meet with her. Investigators documented conversations and actions they say demonstrated intent. Once sufficient evidence was collected, deputies arrested Leland without incident.

Charges

Leland was charged with solicitation to commit first-degree murder, a serious felony under Florida law. She was held without bond. No trial date had been announced, and prosecutors had not released information about potential sentencing. The intended victim was never harmed. As with all criminal cases, Leland is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Officials’ Statement

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office credited the operation with preventing a potentially deadly crime before anyone was harmed. Officials emphasized that undercover operations are a critical tool when there is a credible threat of violence but no crime has yet occurred. They did not specify how the investigation was initially triggered. Officials noted that age does not diminish criminal responsibility when evidence shows deliberate planning.

References: Florida Woman, 81, Arrested in Murder-for-Hire Sting | 81-year-old Florida woman arrested after allegedly trying to hire hitman, authorities say | Citrus County woman, 81, accused of trying to hire hitman