Three sisters, two from Alabama, face federal charges after allegedly conspiring to hire a hitwoman to kill one of the sisters’ sons-in-law, whom they believed was abusing his wife and their children, according to a U.S. District Court complaint filed this week.

Mitzy Gaye Smith, 54, of Fairhope, AL; Sandra Kaye Grimes (aka Sandra Kaye Johnson), 57, of Niceville, FL; and Judy Owen, 61, of Silverhill, AL, are accused of plotting to kill Raul Eduardo Mena. They believed Mena was abusing Sandra Grimes’ daughter, Irma Nichole Bauer, and her children and drugging Bauer to force her into sex with others, as detailed in court records.

The sisters initially paid a man $10,000 to kill Mena, but he disappeared with the money. Desperate, they then turned to Rebecca Elizabeth Murphy, a convicted felon from Foley, AL, who had a history of drug-related crimes and fraud. Smith and Murphy were former neighbors in Fairhope.

Murphy needed money for her dog's veterinary bills, so Owen paid the remaining $500, allowing Murphy to take her dog home. However, Owen then told Murphy she owed her for the payment and demanded she kill Mena in return. Owen and Murphy went to a local Walmart to meet with Grimes, and the three women then drove to Louisiana to show Murphy where Mena lived. Murphy later told investigators she felt like a hostage during the trip, with no choice but to comply.

Phone records obtained by the FBI show that between March 7 and April 21, Grimes paid Murphy over $1,000 via CashApp. Murphy told investigators the money was intended for killing Mena and to cover her hotel, food, and other expenses while there.

On March 9, Grimes texted Murphy photos of Mena's home's interior, identifying various rooms, including Mena's and the children's. Grimes also suggested that thunderstorms in the Marrero area would be the perfect cover for shooting Mena, as the noise would mask the gunfire. She even provided instructions on how to cut the power to Mena's home.

Despite these plans, Murphy returned to Alabama. Grimes continued to pay her small amounts to keep her engaged in the plot, while Murphy began looking for someone else to help her kill Mena.

Grimes, Owen, and Smith provided money, a gun, and instructions to Murphy, but she continually delayed the act.

After Murphy refused to carry out the murder during a custody hearing and a stormy night in Marrero, the sisters expressed their frustration through heated text messages, threatening to take action themselves if Murphy didn’t proceed.

“I don’t know what to tell ya, I want the gun and bullets brought back if u coming back,” Grimes wrote, according to court transcripts. “I don’t have anymore money that guy took the last cash I had. Please don’t tell me no bullshit about the MF do what ya gota do. I don’t know.

“Hubby is home I am headed to wk in two hours,” Grimes’ texting continued. “This has turned into a real shitshow. Not passed off but this MF tendes get awY with shit again. That’s ok his funding day will come now! With or without you.”

Grimes again worked to convince Murphy to go through with the murder.

“U stab him in the heart at the door or shoot his ass in the heart or face at the what the f can he do,” she wrote. “Far as the MF messing with them kids. Yes I know the bastard is. I been saying this I could not get anyone to listen. I am om my verge of going postal on his ass.”

On March 22, Grimes texted Murphy, telling her if Murphy didn’t kill Mena “then I will go and do the shit my damn self!” She included screenshots of confrontational text messages between Mena and Bauer, apparently hoping to further motivate Murphy.

A day later, Owen texted Murphy, reminding her of the money they had already paid.

“If u not go do nothing we want our money back we got better places to put it,” Owen wrote. “I’m the one who paid for your dog, my friend who works for the vet knows I paid. I want progress or my money u pick.” Owen ended the text with an angry-faced emoji.

Murphy eventual