New Jersey Troopers Foil Woman's Alleged Plot to Hire Hitman, Murder Daughter's Ex-Boyfriend

New Jersey State Police have foiled a murder-for-hire plot in New Jersey, after a woman attempted to hire a hitman to kill her daughter’s ex-boyfriend and two others.

According to a news release from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Denise Marie Nagrodski, 52, of Easton, Pa., was arrested about 7:30 p.m. on Route 22 in New Jersey. Nagrodski met with an undercover detective of the State Police Violent Organized Crime Control South Bureau, whom she believed to be a hitman, at the Phillipsburg Mall.

Nagrodski allegedly provided the undercover detective with photos of the intended victims, a map to the house where all of the intended victims live, and $500, which allegedly was the balance of the $1,000 she agreed to pay him. She paid $500 at a prior meeting with the investigator at the Phillipsburg Mall on Nov. 21, according to the news release. Nagrodski allegedly hatched the plot in revenge after claiming the boyfriend was abusive and caused her daughter to have a miscarriage while pregnant with twins two years ago, the news release said.

Nagrodski has been charged with three counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of first-degree attempted murder, one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, and one count of fourth-degree attempt to tamper with or fabricate physical evidence, the news release said.

According to the news release from the attorney general’s office, each first-degree charge carries with it a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison, including a mandatory period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence, and a criminal fine of up to $200,000. The second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Additionally, the fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Nagrodski would face potential consecutive sentences because her alleged plot included multiple intended victims.

Nagrodski is being held at the Warren County Jail on $2 million bail, cash only.