SIKESTON, MO – Legal troubles are mounting for Ben Patrick Mullavey, a 64-year-old Illinois resident, who stands accused of orchestrating a murder plot against his former business ally in Florida. The weapon of choice? A crossbow and arrow, law enforcement sources reveal.
Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri have disclosed that Mullavey was prepared to shell out as much as $10,000 to see his ex-partner dead. The motive behind this alleged plot was a $200,000 debt that Mullavey claimed his former associate owed him, a matter that was not resolving favorably in court.
To carry out this alleged plot, Mullavey is said to have tried to recruit a hitman, arranging a meeting in Sikeston, Missouri, to hash out the details.
During this clandestine meeting, Mullavey allegedly provided the potential assassin with the identity and description of his ex-partner, along with a detailed plan for the murder.
Adding to the intrigue, Mullavey is said to have handed over $1,000 as an advance payment to the hitman, additional funds to cover various expenses, directions to a restaurant near the target’s wine bar, a Florida license plate for camouflage, and the unusual weapon intended for the murder.
If convicted, the potential penalties for Mullavey are severe, including up to ten years in a federal prison, a fine of as much as $250,000, or both.