Mitzy Gaye Smith, Judy Owen and Sandra Grimes: Alabama sisters charged for hiring woman to inject son-in-law with lethal dose of heroin

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

BALDWIN COUNTY, ALABAMA: According to court documents, three Alabama sisters are accused of attempting to enlist a woman's help in administering a fatal heroin dose to one of their sons-in-law. 

Allegedly, their method of choice for eliminating him was indifferent, be it by injection, stabbing, or shooting, as long as the objective was accomplished. 

Mitzy Gaye Smith, 54, Judy Owen, 61, and Sandra Grimes, 57, now face federal charges including conspiracy to murder for hire, conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a violent crime, and utilizing interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire.

Woman discloses murder for hire plot to FBI

The conspiracy of murder for hire plot surfaced as an unidentified woman approached the FBI, disclosing that her neighbor, identified as Smith, along with Smith's sisters, harbored intentions of eliminating the husband of Grimes' daughter.

According to the informant, Grimes conveyed that her son-in-law had purportedly subjected Grimes' daughter and their children to physical assaults.

Also, Grimes' son-in-law had coerced her into engaging in sexual acts with others by administering drugs, as detailed in the court documents.

Reportedly, Grimes and Owen embarked on a journey to Louisiana to acquaint their prospective assailant with the residence of their marked victim, making multiple passes by the location.

Allegedly, Grimes and Owen apprised the woman they intended to hire that their target was a substance abuser and tasked her with administering a fatal heroin dose as per Law&Crime.

Additionally, they purportedly expressed indifference to the method, indicating that they were unconcerned whether the target's demise was achieved by heroin injection or throat-slitting, as long as the objective was accomplished.

Hitwoman insists on additional compensation for veterinary expenses

According to court documents, they claimed to have already given $10,000 to a man for the murder, but he absconded with the money.

The woman agreed to participate but insisted on additional compensation, as stated in court documents. Owen provided her with $350 in cash for purchasing heroin, after the woman purportedly covered the $500 veterinary expenses for the potential killer's ailing dog in February.

During a subsequent visit to Louisiana, Owen allegedly proposed that the woman carry out the murder outside a courthouse, where Grimes' daughter and her husband were attending a child custody hearing, as detailed in court documents.

However, the supposed prospective killer declined, citing the presence of daylight and numerous surveillance cameras.

Following this trip, Smith reportedly delivered a box containing Christmas decorations to the woman. At the bottom of the box, court documents allege, was a 9 mm Phoenix Arms handgun with its serial number obliterated, along with a magazine containing three bullets.

Upon receiving the firearm, court documents state that "she then knew the sisters were serious about the scheme."

Text messages against three sisters

Grimes and the woman utilized pseudonyms in their text exchanges regarding the plan. Allegedly, Grimes transferred $1,010 to the woman via the Cash App for execution and reimbursement purposes, covering expenses such as a hotel stay, meals, and other expenses incurred in Louisiana. 

In one message from this March, Grimes suggested methods of execution, stating, "U stab him in the heart at the door or shoot his a** in the heart or face." 

Dom Soto, an attorney representing Smith, raised doubts about the credibility of the FBI informant, alleging that the informant, who admitted to being a drug user with at least five felony convictions, lacks credibility. 

Court documents state that the informant is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to being a felon. 

Soto expressed skepticism about the accusations, stating, "There’s three sisters that are being tied together by the allegations made by a person who carries a lot of baggage as far as prior criminal history."