MI Man Planned To Kill Family For Inheritance: Police

TROY, MI — A Troy man could spend the rest of his life in prison after police said he planned to kill family members to get a larger inheritance, police said.

Max Garza, 48, was charged with five counts of solicitation to commit murder. He was placed in jail with a $1 million bond. His next court date was scheduled for July 18. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison for each charge.

Police said a witness told officers Garza was planning to hire someone to kill family members because he was generally upset with the targeted family members and wanted a larger inheritance from the estate.

The witness also told officers Garza was looking for a gun and preparing to carry out the killings himself if he couldn't hire someone to do them, police said.

Police also said the witness provided them with recorded conversations of Garza discussing his plans, how he would pay for the murders, construct an alibi and a backup plan if he couldn't hire a hitman.

The recordings were turned over to investigators who verified the information, police said.

Investigators interviewed Garza on July 3 at the Troy Police Department, where he was arrested in the plot, police said.

"The information that we received from the witness proved credible and officers felt if Garza was not immediately arrested, his family was in danger," police said.