Coeur d'Alene Press Newspaper | CDAPress.com
Local and National News - Kootenai County, Idaho
Woman arrested for solicitation to murder
Staff writer
Former Cd'A resident sought to disfigure woman over ex-boyfriend
COEUR d'ALENE -- A former Coeur d'Alene woman is being held in the Kootenai County jail without bail pending a court appearance later today on charges she tried to have another woman disfigured or killed.
Coeur d'Alene Police arrested Valerie Hansen Colbert, 47, of Yakima, Wash., about noon Thursday for solicitation of murder.
Police said the woman contacted a 23-year-old Coeur d'Alene man early last month and offered to pay him $2,000 to disfigure a 45-year-old woman.
"The motive appears to be jealousy over an ex-boyfriend," said police spokeswoman Sgt. Christie Wood.
Wood said the intended victim is an acquaintance of Colbert's.
The man said Colbert, who he only knew as "Susan," contacted him asking if he wanted a job.
"The male said he did not know how the suspect got his number," Wood said.
The two arranged to meet in an elementary school parking lot last Friday afternoon.
Wood said Colbert told the man she wanted the woman permanently disfigured.
"The male told her he does not do that kind of work," Wood said.
Colbert then allegedly offered him a finder's fee if he knew anyone who did and gave the man her phone number.
Wood said the man discussed the request with his roommate. They both went to police.
Wood said an undercover detective working with the Kootenai County Joint Drug Task Force contacted Colbert by telephone and agreed to a meeting at a sports field on Ramsey Road about noon Thursday.
Wood said Colbert told the drug agent who she wanted killed and handed him an envelope with the money and instructions. Within minutes of making the deal, Colbert was arrested.
Colbert's only criminal record in Kootenai County is a ticket for illegally passing a school bus in 1999. It's unclear if she has a record in her new hometown of Yakima.
Colbert is expected to make a first appearance this afternoon in magistrate court.
Idaho Code says solicitation carries the same maximum punishment as for an attempted crime, or half the maximum sentence for that crime. Murder is punishable by death or life imprisonment, with a minimum sentence of 10 years.
Dave Turner can be reached at 664-8176, ext. 2009 or at dturner@cdapress.com.
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