Authorities say two New Mexico men arrested in a murder-for-hire plot had planned to strangle and castrate Justin Bieber and his bodyguard.
KRQE-TV reports Mark Staake, 41, and his nephew, Tanner Ruane, 23, were arrested late last month in Vermont, accused of plotting to kidnap and kill four people on behalf of Dana Martin, a convicted rapist and murderer currently serving two life sentences. Staake allegedly met Martin in Las Cruces state prison.
According to a New Mexico police affidavit, Staaker and Ruane allegedly planned to first kill two witnesses to Martin's crime before moving on to Bieber. Police say Martin, 45, was obsessed with Bieber and has a tattoo of him on one of his legs.
Martin instructed Staake and Ruane to strangle Bieber and the others with a paisley tie, Martin's "calling card," KRQE reports. Martin apparently had a change of mind and ratted out to two men before they could carry out the plans.
Staake was arrested in Vermont on outstanding warrants while Ruane was arrested later, after police recorded calls to Martin in which Ruane said he was "disappointed he couldn't carry out the murders."
Ruane was arrested with pruning shears and "murder tools," according to KRQE. There was a $2,500 bounty for each of Bieber's testicles, according to the affidavit.
