A man plotting to have his Filipina wife and daughter murdered for cash accidentally sent messages about the plan to his former boss.
American Jeff Lytle, of Monroe, Washington, thought he was texting a hitman named Shayne.
Prosecutors say he had previously spoken to the gun-for-hire about that scheme to kill his wife and four-year-old daughter for their $1.5 million life insurance payout.
His wife has been identified on social media as Rhoda Mee Funtanilla Lydle.
However, the message about the plan was sent to an ex-employer, who forwarded it to police, leading to Lytle’s arrest this week.
The text said: “Hey Shayne hows it going. You remember you said that you would help me kill my wife. I’m going to take you up on that offer.”
Other miss-sent messages included: “Life insurance is worth 1 million and if you want a bounes (bonus) you can kill [his daughter]. Her life insurance is 500K.
“If you can make it look like a robbery gone wrong or make it an accident she works at Walmart she gets off at 11:00.
“I’ll split everything with the insurance 50/50.”
When interviewed by police, Lytle, aged 42, claimed that his four-year-old daughter might have sent the messages.
Later, he said he was only sending them to “vent”, and did not intend to go through with the plot.
Lytle is now being held in Snohomish County jail and is under investigation for two counts of criminal solicitation of first-degree murder.
See also: Ex-cop hired “hit men” to rape wife and kill her best friend