Man Accused Of Trying To Hire Hitman To Kill Brother
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – A Fort Lauderdale man is in custody, accused of trying to hire a hit man to murder his brother.
Police arrested Jim Roy Watkins Junior and charged him with one count of solicitation to commit murder on Friday after taping several conversations in which Watkins reportedly described the murder for hire plot.
Investigators said Watkins was locked in a bitter legal battle with his brother over their parents' $20 million estate.
A judge ordered Watkins held without bond.
In court, the 59-year-old Watkins shook his head as a judge read over the charges.
In late December, police said Watkins provided the hit man with information to carry out the murder.
"The alleged hit man received a packet from Watkins in Late December. The packet contained pictures of the victim, the victim's house and the victim's vehicle. Additionally it contained a piece of paper detailing the victim's address and a brochure for a nearby hotel," says Mandell.
Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Travis Mandell said Watkins agreed to pay the hit man thousands of dollars.
"Investigators received information from the alleged hit man that Watkins agreed to pay $20,000 in advance of the killing and said he would pay an additional $60 to 80,000 once the victim was killed," Mandell said.
Several recorded conversations were held describing the murder for hire plot, police say.
