Suspect tried twice to order hit on father of girlfriend's child, Iowa police say

JOHNSTON, Iowa (WHO) -- Police in Johnston have made an arrest in connection with a murder-for-hire case.

Twenty-three-year-old Anna Plank was arrested Wednesday night and booked into the Polk County Jail on one count of solicitation to commit murder. Police say Plank is also known as AJ Hernandez.

According to online court records, Plank was seeking someone to kill the father of his girlfriend's child because of upset and tension over custody and visitation arrangements.

Johnston Police say investigators found that Plank tried twice to hire someone to commit the murder.

The first attempt was back in February and made to an associate over the phone and using a messaging app. Plank indicated they wanted to make the victim “disappear forever.” The second solicitation was in May when Plank allegedly contacted a mutual friend of the associate over Facebook Messenger and solicited the murder, even discussing the price. Those messages were turned over to the police.

The complaint claims Plank admitted to law enforcement that he had made the solicitations.

Plank is being held on a bond of $10,000.