A substitute teacher from Ohio was arrested for allegedly offering $2,000 to a high school student to kill her husband. The police charged 44-year-old Stephanie Demetrius with first-degree conspiracy on Wednesday.
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Student Allegedly Offered $2,000 By Teacher To Kill Her Husband
This all came to light after the student's mother discovered the murder-for-hire plot. The teen's mom read the texts between her son and the Academy for Urban Scholars High Shool substitute. WSYX obtained the court documents, which revealed that Demetrius offered $2,000 to a student on March 26.
It began with the teenager receiving $250 in cash as a down payment from the substitute. According to charging documents, investigators obtained evidence of a recorded phone call between the two. Demetrius assured the son during the call that he shouldn't worry about the remaining payment. She also said she owed him an additional "15."
Sgt. James Fuqua of the Columbus Division of Police explained the severity of this crime. "This particular teacher was attempting to groom this young person into committing murder," he said.
Fuqua was also grateful that the student's mother contacted the authorities. "Without their help, some of this might not have come to light," Fuqua continued. "This was a situation where a parent was able to capture things inside this young person's phone and contact authorities."
Investigators also had evidence of Demetrius laying out a plan for the student. She gave him details on her estranged husband's schedule while also telling him when her kids wouldn't be home. When the teenager worriedly asked about neighbors hearing the gunfire, she downplayed his concerns.
Demetrius showed up in Franklin County Municipal Court Thursday morning. Her public defender attempted to deny the allegations. According to The Columbus Dispatch, he claimed the student's mother fabricated everything.
Everything We Know About Stephanie Demetrius
So far, we don't know how bad the relationship is between the teacher and her husband. While court records show they married in 2004, they were going through divorce proceedings in 2017. According to the outlet, they later withdrew them. The couple also shares four children.
The Columbus Dispatch also detailed Demetrius's messy history. The substitute's husband filed for emergency custody in July 2024, the files mentioning violence allegations. Her husband also alleged that three weeks prior, she violated a stay-away order. She reportedly broke into his home and stole his laptop and some money.
"She has physically assaulted two of the children and Defendant Father," said the filing. "The minor children are in danger of harm as their mother's (sic) continues to return to the Marital Residence and break windows and doors to force herself in."
On top of that, Demetrius allegedly got a pair of scissors to "stab" her husband. This was all while one of their children was home, which would've been a terrible sight to see. This is all on top of other allegations, like Demetrius setting fire to their basement, damaging property, taking parts from the home's furnace during freezing temperatures, and more.
The 2024 filing also mentioned that the father attempted many times to "resolve the situation with Mother." Despite that, she appeared "to be escalating in her erratic and threatening behavior."
