MUSKEGON, Mich. — Muskegon woman Julia Charlene Merfeld, 21, pleaded guilty Thursday to soliciting the murder of her 27-year-old husband, according to Muskegon County Prosecutor Timothy Maat.
Merfeld’s husband told the court he wants her to serve no jail time for the crime; however, Chief Muskegon County Circuit Judge William C. Marietti wasn’t as forgiving. He agreed to cap the sentence at six years when he sentences her on July 30 because of the victim’s wishes.
During questioning by the judge, Merfeld admitted to meeting with a man to solicit the murder between April 5 and April 10, according to Maat. She later learned that he was an undercover Michigan State Police officer. She confessed to police after her arrest that she wanted her husband killed so she could collect a $400,000 life insurance policy.
