Man charged in attempted murder-for-hire plot in Cole County

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

An 80-year-old Russellville man was charged Monday with trying to hire someone to kill two family members.

Harley Koestner was arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, the Cole County Sheriff's Department says in a news release. Deputies arrested Koestner at about 9 a.m. Sunday at a convenience store in Russellville, according to the release.

He was charged Monday with two counts of first-degree attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder.

A probable cause statement alleges a witness told investigators that Koester asked them to kill two family members for money. The witness recorded the conversation, the statement says.

Koestner was arrested when he stopped to get gas during a trip to show the witness the targets, according to the statement.

Koestner was being held Monday in the Cole County Jail without bond. Information about charges was not available in online court records.

The sheriff's department said it will not release any other details, citing the active investigation.

No hearings had been set Monday morning.