A Florida man already sitting in a jail cell for stalking charges is now facing a far more severe accusation after deputies say he tried to turn a fellow inmate into a hitman.
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) arrested 48-year-old Michael Morichelli, of Tallahassee, last Wednesday, charging him with criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder. Investigators allege Morichelli was actively negotiating a price to have a member of his own family killed.
The investigation began on November 18, when a concerned inmate flagged down a deputy at the Leon County Detention Facility. The inmate reported that Morichelli had approached him with a proposition: he was looking for someone to carry out a murder once they were released from custody.
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Detectives with the LCSO’s Criminal Investigations Division quickly launched a probe into the claims. According to their findings, Morichelli didn’t just make a passing comment; he allegedly put a specific price tag on his relative’s life.
Investigators say Morichelli initially offered the other inmate $40,000 to complete the hit. When the inmate refused the offer, Morichelli reportedly doubled down, raising the bounty to $50,000 in an attempt to secure the contract.
Morichelli remains in custody at the Leon County Detention Facility, now facing the additional capital felony charge.
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