Hearing for Heavy Metal Singer Accused of Plotting Murder of Estranged Encinitas Wife

A preliminary hearing is scheduled today for the lead singer of a San Diego-based heavy-metal band accused of trying to arrange the murder of his estranged wife.

Timothy Peter Lambesis, 32, the front man for the band As I Lay Dying, was booked into jail last May 7 on suspicion of solicitation to commit murder. Following today's hearing, a judge will decide if enough evidence was presented for Lambesis to stand trial. Lambesis was arrested at an Oceanside bookstore after he allegedly asked an undercover detective to kill his spouse, Meggan, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The defendant allegedly gave the detective an envelope containing $1,000, photos of his wife, her address and the code to get through a security gate. He also allegedly gave dates when the "hit'' could take place -- days when he had his children, saying that would be his alibi, investigators said.

Authorities said they began investigating the defendant about a week prior to his arrest after they got word he was trying to find someone to kill his wife of eight years. The Encinitas resident filed for divorce from Lambesis in September 2012, according to Billboard magazine, a music industry publication that also reported the couple has three adopted children from Ethiopia.

Deputy District Attorney Claudia Grasso alleged that Lambesis originally approached someone in a gym and asked if the individual knew anyone who would kill his wife. Lambesis later met with the undercover agent posing as a hit man -- code name "Red'' -- according to Grasso. "Red'' asked Lambesis if he wanted his wife of eight years gone, and the defendant replied, ``Yes, that's what I want,'' the prosecutor alleged.

–City News Service