TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — A Leon County inmate is accused of trying to hire a fellow prisoner to kill a family member. That’s according to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
Michael Morichelli, 40, was charged with criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder Wednesday.
The arrest comes after an investigation that began when another inmate reported the murder-for-hire plot.
Morichelli was already being held at the Leon County Detention Facility on stalking charges when he made the accused offer on November 18.
A deputy was notified by an inmate that Morichelli had offered money to carry out a murder, prompting the Criminal Investigations Division to launch an investigation.
Detectives learned that Morichelli allegedly offered another inmate $40,000 to commit the murder once released from custody. When the inmate declined, Morichelli later increased the offer to $50,000, according to investigators.
The investigation revealed that the intended victim was a member of Morichelli’s family.
LCSO has not released additional details about the relationship or motive.
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