By: Yuritza Arroyo
Mercer County authorities reported a recent investigation culminated this week with the arrest of a Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, woman for attempting to hire an undercover officer to murder her ex-husband’s current wife.
According to Mercer County officials, Ms. Marilyn Zhou, 56, is charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder and one count of third-degree money laundering.
Officials say the prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain her pending trial.
Earlier this month, the SIU received information that Zhou was looking for assistance with a murder for hire.
According to Detectives, on Sunday morning, December 18, Zhou met with an undercover officer in Trenton, where she advised the officer she wanted them to murder her ex-husband’s new wife.
Detectives say Zhou provided the officer with two color photographs of the victim, $21,000 in cash, rubber nitrile gloves and a towel to carry out the murder.
She also told the undercover officer that if the victim’s 13-year-old daughter was present at the time of the murder, she should also be murdered.
Police say Zhou stated she would pay the undercover officer an additional $20,000 once the murder was complete.
Moments after the meeting, Zhou was taken into custody by the SIU.
Authorities said later that evening, members of the SIU assisted the Pennsylvania State Police in executing a search warrant at Zhou’s residence in Chadds Ford.
Detectives seized $18,000 and located items she advised the undercover officer to use during the murder.