Bob Bashara, Mich. man, charged with soliciting murder of wife's accused killer
(CBS/AP) DETROIT - Bob Bashara, the husband of a Detroit-area woman who was strangled in January, has been charged with soliciting the murder of the man accused of killing his wife.
Bond has been set at $15 million for Bashara, charged with solicitation of murder after he allegedly offered to pay more then one person to kill handyman Joe Gentz while he awaits trial in Wayne County Jail, reports CBS Detroit.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Bashara wanted Gentz - a handyman who had done odd jobs for Bashara - dead prior to a planned July 23 court appearance. Gentz is charged with killing Jane Bashara in her Grosse Pointe Park home in January. Gentz has said he did it at Bob Bashara's behest.
Bashara is not accused in the death of his wife but police have described Robert Bashara as a person of interest in the killing. Bashara denies any role in his wife's death.
However, Bashara's lawyer David Griem has said he believes his client was set up. According to the Detroit Free Press, Bashara is now being held on $15 million bond.
CBS Detroit reports that the body of Jane Bashara, a marketing executive and mother of two, was found in the back of her Mercedes-Benz SUV parked in an alley at Pinewood and Annott in Detroit on Jan. 25. Her husband reported her missing the night before. An autopsy showed that she had extensive bruising to her upper body, a crushed windpipe and missing fingernails.
At Bashara's arraignment Wednesday, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said, "The evidence will show that Mr. Bashara wanted Mr. Gentz killed because he ... didn't want him to testify in any future proceedings, should there be any," reports the Free Press.
The paper also reports that Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Lisa Lindsay said at the arraignment that Bashara was a danger to the community and "could easily contract another hit."
More on CrimesiderJanuary 30, 2012 - Family of Detroit man questioned in his wife's murder say he's innocentMarch 5, 2012 - Handyman indicted in murder of Detroit woman Jane Bashara, husband a person of interest