Murder for Hire Arrest: Sex Slavery, Kidnapping Also Considered, Sheriff Says

BRADENTON, FL — Rachael Natalie Leahy wanted custody of her children and didn’t see any other way to make it happen than take steps to ensure her ex-husband, David, was “gone completely.”

That’s how Rachael Leahy, 34, described her situation to an undercover Manatee County Sheriff’s Office detective when she met with him on Aug. 29, according to a probable cause affidavit. Rachael’s alleged intentions to have her ex killed were brought to the attention of the sheriff’s office on Aug. 22 when an informant came forward, the report said.

The “source” was given an undercover number to pass along to Rachael, the report said. Rachael called the number and an initial meeting with the undercover detective was set for Aug. 29, the report added.

Rachael showed up to the first face-to-face in the 1200 block of 60th Avenue West driving a black BMW, the report said. As she spoke with the person she allegedly intended to hire to make sure David, 59, of Sarasota was “gone completely,” she “described how David has kept her children from her and she wanted custody of the children,” the report said.

Rachael told the detective she could see no other resolution to the situation, the report said.

“Rachael went on to describe that she has thought about David being kidnapped and taken to another country and made into a sex slave,” the report said. “She then stated that she knew that wasn’t a realistic expectation.”

Rachael told the undercover detective that she would leave the method up to him, but later “mentioned that he could die via an ‘accident’ like a drowning or if he was caught in a fire,” the report said. A car crash was also mentioned, but ruled out because it wouldn’t guarantee success, the report added.

“Rachael described that she needs certainty and he must die,” the report said.

The sheriff’s office said Rachael told its detective she would pay a $5,000 fee for the death through life insurance proceeds from a policy David had taken out.

The detective met with Rachael again on Sept. 1 at the same 60th Avenue West location, the report said. This time, she brought a $1,000 down payment, a copy of her divorce paperwork and photos of her ex-husband.

At that time, “Rachael described that she could not imagine the situation would have come to this,” the report said.

The detective told her she could change her mind, but “Rachael said she has not changed her mind. She said she wants her kids back and she has played nice for too long.”

A third meeting between the two was set for Thursday, Sept. 8. At that meeting, the report said Rachael brought another $1,500 in cash. The two then discussed that Rachael should leave the country on Sept. 9 and “how the murder would occur while she was gone,” the report said.

That trip never happened. Rachael Leahy was brought into custody Thursday, charged with a single count of solicitation of premeditated murder. She remained in the Manatee County Jail without bond on Friday.

Booking photo courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office