Husband Offers 'Hit Man' $15K to Kill Wife: Police

LAUREL, MD — A Laurel man has been arrested in a murder-for-hire scheme after he allegedly paid an undercover detective to kill his wife and instructed him to make it look like a burglary gone wrong, authorities say.

Howard County police have arrested Aafaq Manejwala, 36, of Polished Pebble Way in Laurel, on charges of solicitation of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

Police received a tip that Manejwala was searching for someone who would be willing to kill his wife for money. An informant arranged a meeting between Manejwala and an undercover police detective who posed as a potential hit man.

The undercover Howard County detective met with Manejwala three times in March. Police say Manejwala offered the faux hitman $15,000 to murder his wife and discussed a plan to make the incident appear to be a botched home invasion robbery or burglary.

During their meetings, Manejwala reportedly guided the officer to his neighborhood and pointed out the location of his house, showed the officer a video of the interior of the home, and gave the officer a photo of his wife.

On Tuesday, Manejwala met with the officer, made a payment for the murder, and said he would make another payment on April 1. At that time, the suspect was taken into custody and charged.

Manejwala is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.

Photo Credit: Howard County Police Department.