A woman who pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire plot on ex-husband keeps trying to seek another hitman to finish the job from jail

July 25, 2024 Justin Peters

Federal prosecutors are urging a judge to impose the maximum sentence on a woman for her involvement in a stalking and attempted murder-for-hire plot targeting her ex-husband. Following her guilty plea, new evidence revealed that Russell continued her quest to find a hitman through female inmates.

Stephanie Russell, a 53-year-old former pediatrician from Louisville, Kentucky, known for her Disney-themed office at KidzLife Pediatrics, attempted to falsely accuse her ex-husband of domestic and child sex abuse during their family court battles. These efforts ultimately failed, and in 2022, her ex-husband was granted sole custody of their two children.

Russell’s descent into criminal behavior began with bizarre attempts to have her ex-husband killed, even resorting to a “death spell.” WhatsApp messages revealed her seeking out a hex against her ex, referred to as R.C., before her arrest in 2022 for attempting to pay $7,000 to an undercover FBI agent to carry out the murder.

In one message, Russell inquired about the success rate and cost of a death spell, to which a woman responded that the success rate was 85%. Undeterred, Russell contacted another “Spiritual Healer” and then a third person, identified as “Sk,” insisting that her ex-husband’s death was the only way to achieve peace. Sk warned her that killing him would bring harm to her and her family, suggesting he had some type of protection.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky highlighted that Russell was eventually caught when she solicited multiple KidzLife employees to find someone willing to kill her ex-husband. By May 2022, an undercover federal agent posing as a hitman recorded conversations with her, where she expressed a desire for her ex’s death to be staged as a suicide.

Russell’s plea agreement stipulated a prison term of 8 to 12 years. However, prosecutors argued for the maximum sentence, citing her continued attempts to solicit a hitman even after her guilty plea. They revealed that Russell had approached other female inmates to help find someone to kill her ex-husband.

Prosecutors provided evidence that another inmate sent a letter on Russell’s behalf to her boyfriend, seeking a hitman. The letter, dated the same day as Russell’s guilty plea, included personal details of her ex-husband not publicly available.

Russell’s defense attorney, Michael Mazzoli, argued that her mental health was severely disturbed, which should mitigate her offenses. The defense memo acknowledged Russell’s mental illness but maintained that any prison term within the plea agreement’s range would be sufficient.

The memo included numerous letters of support from family, colleagues, parents of her patients and an academic advisor. These letters consistently described Russell as an excellent pediatrician whose criminal actions were shocking and out of character.

One letter from a cousin and close friend described witnessing a highly contentious divorce and custody battle, believing Russell’s extreme emotional and mental distress contributed to her actions. Sentencing is scheduled for the morning of July 31.