Justin Bieber arrives on the red carpet at Hot 99.5's Jingle Ball 2012, at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia on December 11, 2012. UPI/Molly Riley |
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ALBUQUERQUE, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- An ex-con from New Mexico and his nephew planned to kill Justin Bieber and his bodyguard, police said.
Mark Staake of Albuquerque was allegedly taking orders from a man he met while both were doing time in a prison in Las Cruces, N.M., KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reported. Dana Martin, who received two life sentences for the rape and murder of a Vermont teenager, was allegedly so obsessed with Bieber he has a picture of the Canadian teen pop sensation tattooed on his leg.
Investigators say Martin also wanted Staake to kill two acquaintances in Vermont. Staake allegedly recruited his nephew, Tanner Ruane, to help him.
Bieber was to be killed in between his Madison Square Garden concerts on Nov. 28 and 29, ABC News reported.
Staake was arrested in Vermont when the pair strayed close to the Canadian border and attracted the attention of a Border Patrol agent, ABC News said. He was held on outstanding warrants, while his nephew was released.
New York State Police picked up Ruane after he and Martin allegedly discussed the murder plan in phone calls.
Investigators say Martin wanted the victims not only killed -- specifically strangled with paisley ties -- but castrated.
All three men are charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, Lt. Robert McDonald of the New Mexico State Police said.
