LANSING, Mich. — A woman in Michigan accused of using a fake hitman website to hire a hit man to kill her ex-husband should get a reduction in her bond, the man’s attorney said Wednesday.
Aisha Layek, 23, did not appear at a bond hearing in a Grand Rapids courtroom on a charge of fleeing from police. She left a window open when she was arrested at her parents’ home about 11:45 p.m. Monday, authorities said. Her mother told the judge she didn’t believe her daughter’s story that she was the target.
Layek’s attorney said that she should be released while she studies at Grand Valley State University. She is running for Wayne County prosecutor.
“Aisha Layek was doing what anyone would do in this situation. She was looking for a role model to learn from,” defense attorney William Rodeberg said in court.
He told the judge his client was in court “not to think or plan but to respond to a call for help.”
Layek started the website in August, telling potential hitmen that her ex-husband had hired a private detective to follow her home, and that the man had bribed a bus driver to block her bus, which was scheduled to leave Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
“She was told there were three hitmen (with) $10,000.00 to be paid in cash. Please do not shoot her, cause I’m going to speak on her behalf. And i’ll expose the whole truth to my judge after this,” the posting said.
The page does not appear to have been updated recently.
Authorities issued a warrant for Layek on Monday, and she was arrested that night. Investigators believe Layek went to Grand Rapids to purchase drugs and collect her estranged husband’s rent money when she was arrested, authorities said.
Detroit police Cmdr. Frank Harrington said the fake hitman website was a “complete con job.”
Authorities are investigating other people and credit card transactions related to the website.
The criminal complaint alleges that Layek knew her ex-husband’s mother was a grandmother and about two weeks ago told the woman that Layek’s mother would be a “good mother for the child.”
The police report said Layek also told her mother that she had $1,500 in cash on her and would collect a check from a friend for the remaining $9,000, but that her ex-husband had already wired the money.
“Aisha Layek told the Grand Rapids police officer that she was trying to get Mr. Margarett to pay her and that she had been manipulating him and taking advantage of him,” the police report said.
Layek’s estranged husband filed for divorce in April and the couple’s divorce became final in September. The two were married for about six years and lived in Detroit and Stanton Township, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.
Margarett is a second lieutenant in the Army. He is now stationed at Fort Carson, Colo.