The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
The calls came in June 30 to both Portsmouth police and the FBI that Larry Lingenfelter had contracted with a man to kill his wife in Texas.
Two days before, police in Harker Heights, Texas, had arrested Joseph Frampton on charges of burglary and forced entry of the estranged wife's home, according to the probable cause summary filed in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court this week.
The victim, Julian Stewart, had told Texas police she was walking down the hallway of her home when Frampton appeared from her bedroom wearing blue latex gloves. The room had been ransacked, she said.
Stewart was able to get to a phone and call for help. Frampton was arrested a "short time later," according to an incident report cited in court records.
Stewart told police she knew Frampton through her estranged husband.
The car he was driving - a silver Ford Taurus - had been parked in the driveway of a residence behind her home.
Police impounded the vehicle and recovered cell phones, a map of Harker Heights, a knife and rope.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth police detectives investigating the case interviewed witnesses here.
Police were told that Lingenfelter had contracted for his wife's murder because he wanted sole custody of their three children. One witness said Frampton had said that Lingenfelter could not afford to pay his child support.
Police were also told that Frampton made a trip to Texas in April, but he came back without doing anything because too many people were at the house. Frampton said he was to be paid $10,000 for the murder, according to a witness.
Lingenfelter, 39, of the 4300 block of Scott St. is being held in the Portsmouth City Jail without bond. Frampton, 39, of the 4600 block of Columbia St. is still being held in Texas.
Both men face charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder for hire.
Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com
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Things that make you go hmmmmm...
"One witness said Frampton had said that Lingenfelter could not afford to pay his child support."
and
"Frampton said he was to be paid $10,000 for the murder, according to a witness."
Wonder if Frampton realized he was about to be stiffed and, once arrested, offered details of the deal as a plea agreement in an effort to help catch Lingenfelter out of revenge.
Either way, the judge is going to have a field day with the fact that a man who claims he can't pay child support can come up with $10,000.00 for a hit on his Ex.
" Frampton says " is that
" Frampton says " is that allowed? , I do not believe that ,maybe an ex lover is out for revenge, because she got dumped . NOT Frampton after his friend....Think about it
I see your point, however...
I do see your point. However, I was thinking more along the lines that Frampton was caught at that point and looking for a way to lighten his sentence. No where in the story does it mention that the two men were friends, only that one hired the other to kill his ex.
Often during questioning of an arrested person, others witness the interrogation, many of whom are police officers. It's quite possible one of those 'witnesses' is relaying what Frampton said during questioning. More convincing is the fact that I doubt the two guys spoke to many people about what was planned or why, considering if the lady been murdered, having other people in the know about the details would be a liability, forever. I can definately see someone caught in the act of murder for hire taking the mentality of, 'Well if I'm going down, so are they!' --especially someone with the mindset to kill another human for cash.