A sickening plan was brewed up by two men who are now in jail for attempting to strangle and castrate teen sensation Justin Bieber, reports USA Today.
Two New Mexico men were arrested in a murder for hire plot that would have seen singer Bieber and his bodyguard murdered and castrated.
According to KRQE-TV, 41-year old Mark Staake and his nephew, 23-year old Tanner Ruane, were arrested in Vermont last month. The duo were, according to reports, accused of plotting to kidnap and kill four people on behalf of Dana Martin, who is serving two life sentences for rape and murder. Staake met Martin in Las Cruces state prison.
Two of the four targets according to KRQE, were Bieber and his bodyguard. USA Today reported that a New Mexico police affidavit states Staake and Ruane allegedly planned to first travel from New Mexico to Vermont and kill two witnesses to Martin's crime and afterwards take out the Canadian star.
Staake and Ruane were planning to be in New York City at Madison Square Garden where Bieber was set to perform on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28.
Police said the imprisoned Martin was obsessed with Bieber and even sported a tattoo of the teenager on one of his legs. Authorities said that he directed Staake and Ruane to strangle Bieber and the others with a paisley tie, Martin's "calling card," KRQE said.
In a change of heart, Martin called off the hit before the two could strike. USA Today reported Staake was arrested in Vermont on outstanding warrants, but police let Ruane go. Police recorded phone calls Ruane made to Martin from New York, telling him that he was "disappointed he couldn't carry out the murders," KRQE writes.
New York police arrested Ruane, who had pruning shears and what the CBS affiliate describes as "murder tools."
The Toronto Star said according to the police affidavit there was a $2,500 bounty out on each of Bieber's testicles.
