Former Louisville Pediatrician Pleads Guilty to Stalking Ex-Husband, Attempted Murder-for-Hire

Stephanie Russell, a former pediatrician from Louisville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of stalking her ex-husband and attempting to hire a hitman to kill him. As part of a plea agreement, Russell will face a minimum sentence of 8 years in federal prison.

Prosecutors said that Russell's attempts to find someone to murder her ex-husband began in April 2021, after a family court judge awarded permanent, sole custody of their two children to their father. Russell allegedly spent considerable time trying to arrange the murder, including attempting to hire a self-proclaimed 'witch doctor' to cast a 'death spell' on her ex-husband.

When the 'death spell' failed, Russell turned to more concrete measures. In May 2022, she was arrested after an undercover FBI agent posing as a hitman collected $3,500 from her, which was half of the agreed payment to carry out the murder. Russell had approached two nurses at Kidz Life Pediatrics, where she worked, between July 2021 and March 2022 seeking assistance in killing her ex-husband.

Why this matters: This case highlights the disturbing lengths that some individuals may go to in contentious custody battles and divorce proceedings. It also emphasizes the importance of law enforcement efforts to prevent violent crimes stemming from domestic disputes.

As part of the plea deal, Russell agreed to forfeit the $2,400 in cash found in her home, which was intended as the remainder of the hitman's fee. Her defense team claimed that her "mental health was severely disturbed" at the time and that she believed killing her husband "would protect their children". However, Russell ultimately pleaded guilty, avoiding a trial that was set to begin on Monday and concluding in less than two hours.

Russell's sentencing is scheduled for July 31, where she faces a minimum of 8 years and up to 10 years in federal prison for the charges of stalking and use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. The former pediatrician will remain in federal custody until her sentencing date.

Key Takeaways

• Pediatrician Stephanie Russell pleaded guilty to stalking ex-husband, hiring hitman.
• Russell spent over a year trying to arrange ex-husband's murder, including hiring 'witch doctor'.
• Russell arrested in 2022 after undercover FBI agent collected $3,500 as hitman payment.
• Russell faces 8-10 years in federal prison for stalking, murder-for-hire charges.
• Case highlights disturbing lengths in custody battles and importance of law enforcement.