By Jennifer Todd
Intelligencer Journal/New Era
LANCASTER, Pa. — An inmate at Lancaster County Prison allegedly tried to recruit a fellow inmate to kill one man and assault another, police said Tuesday.
Steven Michael Ingram, 19, offered to pay his cellmate $10,000 to kill a 30-year-old man and put a 23-year-old man “in the hospital,” according to Lancaster city police.
Police said the intended victims are residents of East Hempfield Township.
Investigators said Ingram offered to wire the money to the other inmate’s bank account. Ingram also suggested to the inmate the best place and time of day to commit the crimes, police said.
The motive for the “hit” was the breakup of a romantic relationship, Detective Michael Gerace said. Gerace declined to comment further on the details of the relationship.
Gerace said police found out about the murder-for-hire plot from Ingram’s cellmate, who police did not identify Tuesday.
Investigators said Ingram allegedly proposed the idea to his cellmate on Sept. 25.
On Sept. 29, they said, the inmate notified prison officials in writing that Ingram asked him to kill someone. Prison officials immediately contacted police.
Gerace said investigators worked quickly to determine the validity of the claim.
Ingram and his cellmate were immediately separated, and the cellmate was interviewed by police, he said.
Gerace said the intended victims were not immediately told of the plot because police determined there was no “clear and present danger.”
“Neither one of these guys, Ingram or the other inmate, was going anywhere soon so, at that point, time really wasn’t an issue,” he said.
As a precaution, however, Ingram’s phone privileges were restricted during the investigation, Gerace said.
Ingram admitted to police during an interview that he had hatched the murder plot, Gerace said.
Gerace said Ingram and his cellmate were in prison on parole violations. The detective said he did not know the crime Ingram, who has been incarcerated since Sept. 22, had committed to be placed on parole.
Gerace said he did not know when either man was scheduled to be released.
“I believe there was the thinking that the other inmate was going to get out in a couple of weeks,” Gerace said. “Ingram, I guess, thought he would be there for a while and wanted this taken care of.”
Gerace said he personally told the intended victims of the plot. He said he’s “confident” they are no longer in danger but said he advised them to take certain precautions, such as filing protection-from-abuse orders.
“I do consider this situation to be resolved and don’t expect any further action on the part of Mr. Ingram,” Gerace said. “At the same time, you can never be too careful and we want to do everything possible to ensure the safety of those involved.”
Gerace charged Ingram Monday with criminal solicitation to commit homicide and criminal solicitation to commit aggravated assault.
He was arraigned by District Judge Janice Jimenez and bail was set at $150,000. Ingram has remained at Lancaster County Prison since September.
Copyright 2010 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.