WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Jury: St. Albans Woman Guilty of Trying to Kill Husband

Jury: St. Albans Woman Guilty of Trying to Kill Husband

Burlington, Vermont - November 10, 2009

It took the jury of seven men and five women a little more than two hours to find Rebecca Wetter, 45, of St. Albans, guilty of conspiring to murder her former husband, Fay Pelletier.

The jury was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Wetter had plotted with her daughter to try to find a hit man to kill Pelletier just six months after their marriage. Pelletier had amassed an estate worth nearly $2 million that Wetter would inherit.

Wetter showed little emotion as the verdict was announced finding her guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and three counts of inciting a felony.

Pelletier was overjoyed and thankful to police who may have saved his life when the plot was exposed by a tipster.

"I had no idea. No clue at all. It's a nightmare-- three-year nightmare and it's finally over," Pelletier said. "I'm very happy and the court system did work. So don't think it doesn't work, but you have to want it."

"Well obviously we're very pleased with the time and attention that the jury took to decide the case," Chittenden County Deputy Prosecutor Mary Morrissey said. "Happy that Fay Pelletier will be able to move on with his life and kind of close this chapter of it. So, we're pleased."

Wetter was ordered held on $50,000 bail pending sentencing. She is expected to request a new trial and appeal the convictions that could bring up to 20 years in prison.

It sounds like a Hollywood movie, but it's not clear if the plot was ever close to becoming reality.

Key witnesses for the state included Wetter's daughter, Jennifer Francis, a convicted drug user who testified that her mother recruited her to find a hit man. But it appears only one person, Elliot Glover, a drug dealer who sold cocaine to Wetter and her daughter, was actually asked if he could provide a hit man, or be the hit man. He testified Wetter's daughter tried to recruit him for the hit.

Glover: My understanding was, they wanted somebody killed, a contract kill to murder somebody.

Prosecutor: Did Ashley tell you who wanted this to happen?

Glover: Yes, she told me Jen was telling her that her mom wanted to.

Prosecutor: And you said that you laughed about it?

Glover: Oh yeah, we both laughed at the time.

Glover testified that he did not take the request seriously.

However, as the prosecutor stressed, the plot was real and might have succeeded if the conspiracy had not been revealed to police by an informant.

Wetter often shook her head and appeared to say no, as key state witnesses testified against her. But when it was her turn to mount a defense, she chose not to testify.

I spoke briefly with Mr. Pelletier-- the intended victim. I asked about how much was in his estate. He says it might have been $2 million at one point, but he says Wetter spent money so quickly during their brief marriage-- including on drugs-- that he is now in debt.

Brian Joyce - WCAX News

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