Woman, son admit murder-for-hire plot

A Pinehurst, Idaho, woman and her 40-year-old son pleaded guilty Thursday to attempting to hire a hit man to murder a girl that the son had allegedly raped.

The son, William Caldwell, now faces two life sentences in prison. His mother, 57-year-old Myra Caldwell, could serve up to 15 years.

The plot by William and Myra Caldwell was uncovered in October after an inmate at the Kootenai County Jail informed police. William Caldwell was in jail at the time awaiting trial on rape charges and had told the inmate he wanted his accuser killed.

As instructed by her incarcerated son, Myra Caldwell sent the girl’s photo and her address to a man she believed would commit the murder, according to court documents. She later spoke on the phone with the hit man – in reality, an undercover detective – and agreed to pay $400 for the killing.

Myra Caldwell was arrested Nov. 9. Since then, both she and her son have been in jail on $1 million bonds.

As part of a plea agreement announced Thursday, Myra Caldwell’s conspiracy to commit murder charge was reduced to solicitation to commit first-degree murder.

Under Idaho law, conspiracy to commit a crime is punished the same as if the crime took place, which could have meant a life sentence for the grandmother, who has no previous criminal record. Now she faces up to 15 years in prison.

Judge Charles Hosack refused Caldwell’s request to be released until her May 24 sentencing. According to Caldwell’s lawyer, her husband of 35 years has health problems and needs assistance.

William Caldwell pleaded guilty to a single rape charge – originally he faced 10 counts involving the same underage victim – and to the crime of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Both crimes are punishable by up to life in prison.

Caldwell has an extensive criminal history, including previous prison time for drugs and robbery, according to court documents. At a minimum, he will face 10 years in the state penitentiary, according to sentencing guidelines.

Although Myra Caldwell dabbed her eyes with a tissue at the start of the hearing, she stared impassively at a wall as her son pleaded guilty to the charges.

When it was her turn to shuffle to the defense table in her shackles and jumpsuit, she mouthed the words “I love you” to a person in the gallery.