Pennsylvania mom accused of plotting murders of daughter's ex-boyfriend, 2 others

NEW JERSEY -- New Jersey authorities say state police have foiled a Pennsylvania woman's plot to enlist a hitman to murder her daughter's ex-boyfriend, his sister and the sister's boyfriend.

Acting New Jersey Attorney General John Hoffman says 52-year-old Denise Nagrodski, of Easton, was arrested around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on Route 22.

He says Nagrodski had just driven away from the Phillipsburg mall, where she had met with an undercover state police detective who she believed would carry out the murders.

Nagrodski allegedly paid the pretend hitman $500 and gave him photos of the intended victims. Police say she also drew a map to the house where they live in Bound Brook.

The $500 allegedly was the balance of the $1,000 she agreed to pay the detective. She had also paid him $500 at a prior meeting at the mall on Nov. 21.

Authorities say Nagrodski planned the murders as an act of revenge because she claimed that the boyfriend was abusive and caused her daughter to have a miscarriage years ago when she was pregnant with twins.

Police say she initially asked that the sister and her boyfriend each be shot twice in the forehead, "one for each twin." But ultimately, she allegedly agreed that he would "bash in" the heads of those two victims instead and set their house on fire, because she could not provide him with a gun.

Regarding the daughter's ex-boyfriend, she allegedly told the detective to "burn him alive" and make sure he knew she was responsible. Before she left the detective's car after the first meeting, he said, "Once you step out of the car, this is on." She allegedly replied, "I need it done."

"Nagrodski thought she had taken every step necessary to translate her personal vendetta into murder, plotting horrific violence against not only her daughter's ex-boyfriend, but also two of the people closest to him," Hoffman said. "Fortunately, the New Jersey State Police worked swiftly and expertly to expose her plot and prevent anyone from being killed."

Nagrodski is charged with three counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of first-degree attempted murder, one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, and one count of fourth-degree attempt to tamper with or fabricate physical evidence.

She remained jailed Wednesday on $2 million cash bail.