Cops: Man Learns of Murder Plot Against Him After Alleged Suspect Butt Dials Him

JONESBORO, AR. – Police say the owner of used car dealership in Jonesboro was arrested for conspiracy to commit murdere after accidentally calling his intended victim while plotting the crime. 

Jonesboro police told Region 8 News that the suspect, 68-year-old Larry Barnett of Jonesboro, was in the process of hiring someone to kill his former employee, when he unintentionally called that same employee, who then overhead the details of how and why Barnett wanted it done. 

According to the affidavit, Barnett told the supposed hit-man, “I don’t care if you have to burn his house to the ground with him in it” and to “make it look like an accident.” Barnett’s reason was reportedly made clear as well: “I owe the little son of a ***** a bunch of money and if he’s gone, I don’t have to pay for it.”

Apparently this wasn’t the first time Barnett had considered killing the employee. The target also overheard talk of a previous attempt against him but “they couldn’t get the job done.” 

The intended victim called police. When officers arrived at the intended target’s home, the phone call had been going on for an hour and half. “The conversation on the phone had already ended but the phone call was still active to Mr. Barnett’s cell phone.”

Court documents state that the intended target then went to the police department to fill out a report. When he returned home, police say his home had been already burglarized and the gas stove had been tampered with.