A Covington woman was arrested Monday and charged with attempted capital murder and solicitation for murder in a murder for hire plot.
Mary K. Davis, 58, of Covington, was arrested by the Covington Police Department and Virginia State Police Monday in the parking lot of Wal-Mart in Covington, according to Alleghany County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ed Stein. The arrest occurred after Davis spoke to an undercover officer.
The month-long investigation began when Covington Police Department Investigator Sgt. Kenny Duncan received information that an individual was looking to hire someone to commit a murder, according to Covington Police Chief J.B. Broughman.
Covington police, along with the Virginia State Police, launched an investigation. A state police undercover investigator posed as a hit man and was allegedly given a cash down payment, Stein said. The alleged victim was the suspect’s husband, Stein said.
Davis is being held in the Alleghany Regional Jail without bond. She will be arraigned today, Stein said. He was not sure if she had been appointed legal counsel.
Attempted capital murder, a Class 2 felony, is punishable by a sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment. Solicitation to commit murder is punishable by a five to 40-year sentence.
The incident remains under investigation.