U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Press Release

March 08, 2007

MAN ARRESTED IN MURDER FOR HIRE PLOT

FBI Special Agent in Charge, Weysan Dun, Springfield Division announced the arrest of Christopher A. Hemminghaus on Murder for Hire charges. A criminal complaint was filed in the United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois, on March 07, 2007, charging Hemminghaus with Murder for Hire, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1958(a).

The FBI and the Illinois State Police initiated an investigation after receiving information that Hemminghaus was attempting to hire someone to kill his girlfriend. The criminal complaint alleges that Hemminghaus offered to pay an individual $600 for the murder and provided the individual with the girlfriend’s address and keys to her car.

On March 06, 2007, at approximately 11:15 a.m., Hemminghaus, age 35, from High Ridge, Missouri, was arrested by the FBI, Illinois State Police, Washington Park Police Department, and the United States Marshals, at the Washington Park Pawn Shop, 5731 Forest Blvd., Washington Park, Illinois, without incident.

Hemminghaus appeared in federal court this morning in East Saint Louis, Illinois.

Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.