Man Hired Hitman To Kill Ex-Wife In Exchange For Cash, Jewelry: Police

YORKVILLE, IL — A Yorkville man is in custody after police discovered his murder-for-hire plot against his ex-wife, police said.

Mark A. Hellenthal, 52, was arrested April 10 and charged with solicitation of murder and solicitation of murder for hire. Yorkville police learned a day earlier that he had arranged with someone to have his former wife killed, they said.

Officers found the victim and arranged for her safety until the situation was resolved. Officials said Hellenthal provided the person he'd hired with information about his ex-wife, including her address and how to gain access to her home.

According to police, on April 10, with authorization to record communications with Hellenthal, an undercover police officer posed as a hitman and spoke to Hellenthal, who provided details on how to access his ex-wife's residence and offered U.S. currency and jewelry as payment for the murder.

Yorkville police, with assistance from the Downers Grove Police Department, found Hellenthal at his workplace and took him into custody. The Kendall County Cooperative Police Assistance Team helped in the investigation.

Hellenthal was taken to the Kendall County jail, where he remained in custody Friday pending a detention hearing Friday.