Authorities in northern Iowa have arrested an Algona man for trying to hire someone to kill his estranged wife. Kossuth County Sheriff’s deputy Nick Larson declined to discuss specifics, but said the investigation started nearly one month ago.
"We had received some information that, basically, this individual was interested in doing something to take care of his wife," Larson said. An undercover officer, posing as a "hitman," met with 60-year-old George Bennett on Monday.
Larson says the information gathered from that meet resulted in Bennett being charged with Attempted Murder. Bennett’s wife, Debbie, was seeking a divorce. Larson says George Bennett had been arrested in the past for violating a no-contact order. Larson could not say exactly how Bennett informed the undercover officer of his wishes to have his wife killed.
"There’s still some loose ends that we need to tie up, so we don’t want to release everything that we know quite yet," Larson explained. If convicted of Attempted Murder, Bennett would face up to 25 years in prison.