Woman gets 22 years for murder-for-hire plot
SEATTLE -- A Des Moines woman who pleaded guilty to a plot that ended in her husband's death has been sentenced in Seattle to 22 years in prison.
The sentencing Thursday in King County Superior Court followed the guilty plea that 50-year-old Velma Ogden-Whitehead entered last month in a bargain with prosecutors to avoid a murder trial. Her sentence is two years longer than prosecutors recommended.
Prosecutors say she and her son from a previous marriage and his friend came up with the plot to kill Ronald Whitehead for his estate and insurance.
The 61-year-old Boeing employee was shot in March of 2005 near SeaTac on the way to work in what appeared to be a carjacking.
In court on Thursday a teary-eyed Ogden-Whitehead claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse and asked for leniency. But Judge Steven Gonzales called her plea an insult and another part of her endless game to blame everyone else for her actions while playing the victim.
And the victim's family fired back, saying Ogden-Whitehead killed her husband and had gone on to slay his reputation.
"Ron whitehead is dead. He cannot be here to defend himself from her despicable and disgusting lies," said daughter Kimberly Whitehead.
"It is disgusting. She is a vile person and everyone knows it now. It's on public record now," said Kimberly's fiance Jay Hildebrand.
But according to the words of Ogden-Whitehead, she was already carrying the heaviest load.
"Knowing that I will never be forgiven by him (my husband) is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life, and that's a much harsher punishment than anything the court could ever hand down to me," she said tearfully.
But the judge called them crocodile tears and added two more years to the recommended sentence.
"You have shown yourself to be selfish and duplicitous. I see nothing that merits mercy," said the judge.
"If you have any remorse, or if you shed a tear, it's only because your lies have been discovered and now you must face the consequences," said Kimberly.
"What she tried to claim actually worked against her," said Hildebrand. "It showed, in my opinion, that he didn't believe her. And she deserved to be punished for that, trying to victimize Ron all over again."
Ogden-Whitehead's son and the friend have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
The sentencing Thursday in King County Superior Court followed the guilty plea that 50-year-old Velma Ogden-Whitehead entered last month in a bargain with prosecutors to avoid a murder trial. Her sentence is two years longer than prosecutors recommended.
Prosecutors say she and her son from a previous marriage and his friend came up with the plot to kill Ronald Whitehead for his estate and insurance.
The 61-year-old Boeing employee was shot in March of 2005 near SeaTac on the way to work in what appeared to be a carjacking.
In court on Thursday a teary-eyed Ogden-Whitehead claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse and asked for leniency. But Judge Steven Gonzales called her plea an insult and another part of her endless game to blame everyone else for her actions while playing the victim.
And the victim's family fired back, saying Ogden-Whitehead killed her husband and had gone on to slay his reputation.
"Ron whitehead is dead. He cannot be here to defend himself from her despicable and disgusting lies," said daughter Kimberly Whitehead.
"It is disgusting. She is a vile person and everyone knows it now. It's on public record now," said Kimberly's fiance Jay Hildebrand.
But according to the words of Ogden-Whitehead, she was already carrying the heaviest load.
"Knowing that I will never be forgiven by him (my husband) is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life, and that's a much harsher punishment than anything the court could ever hand down to me," she said tearfully.
But the judge called them crocodile tears and added two more years to the recommended sentence.
"You have shown yourself to be selfish and duplicitous. I see nothing that merits mercy," said the judge.
"If you have any remorse, or if you shed a tear, it's only because your lies have been discovered and now you must face the consequences," said Kimberly.
"What she tried to claim actually worked against her," said Hildebrand. "It showed, in my opinion, that he didn't believe her. And she deserved to be punished for that, trying to victimize Ron all over again."
Ogden-Whitehead's son and the friend have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
Learn about changes coming to commenting