Monday, October 4, 2010

Dad charged in murder-for-hire plot targeting unborn child, pregnant mother (Schenectady, New York)

Note that you have to read through 7 paragraphs to find out that ALEXEI RAMEY is the purported father of the unborn child targeted in this murder-for-hire scheme. Charming.

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2010/oct/01/1001_murder4hire/

Schenectady man charged in murder-for-hire plot targeting unborn child
October 1, 2010
Updated 2:12 p.m. By Steven Cook (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

SCOTIA — A Schenectady man has been arrested, accused of hiring and conspiring with another man to stab a 19-year-old pregnant acquaintance, targeting the unborn child, state police said today.

Alexei Ramey, 21, of Turner Avenue, was charged Thursday with one count each of second-degree conspiracy, a top-level felony, and fourth-degree conspiracy, also a felony.

He is accused of hiring the man to stab the eight-and a half-months pregnant teen. The unborn child was the main target, state police said.

State police spokeswoman Trooper Maureen Tuffey confirmed this afternoon that the plot was not carried out.

The woman was first made aware of it Thursday by state police investigators. Tuffey did not say whether investigators had been watching over her, but asked how close the plot came to being carried out, Tuffey said, “not too close.”

With the stage of the woman’s pregnancy, Tuffey said it was believed Ramey intended for the attack to have been soon.

Ramey and the woman had previously dated, Tuffey said. It is believed that he is the father of the child.

“We believe that is what was behind this,” Tuffey said.

They had been broken up for most of the pregnancy. It was the unborn child, police said, that was the target.

Ramey was arrested as part of an investigation dating back two weeks. Schenectady Police contacted state police then with information on a possible murder-for-hire case. State police in Princetown and the state police Special Investigation Unit arrested Ramey Thursday.

Asked about the tip, Tuffey only said that it was not anonymous.

The investigation is ongoing, she said. But no more charges are expected at this time.

Ramey was arraigned in Village of Scotia court and ordered held on $100,000 bail.

He is due back in court Oct. 7.