A North Carolina judge set a Lakeland mother's bond at $5 million dollars for plotting to have her children murder her former in-laws.
Leticia Silva, 31, is accused of mailing her 7 and 9-year-old daughters a knife. Pitt County Sheriff's officials said she asked the girls to use the weapon to kill their paternal grandparents.
"It's hard to say what a child's going to do," said Pitt County Sheriff's Det. Charles Mitchell. "The grandparents have told me that they have spoken to the children and neither one of them would carry it out."
Silva lost custody of her daughters when she was arrested in Florida for possession of methamphetamines and sentenced to prison. Her children were sent to live with their grandparents in Greenville, NC.
"Her one goal in life was to get them back," said Silva's friend Mary Snell.
Snell said Silva worked hard to turn her life around and try to regain custody of her children. Her North Carolina in-laws asked to relinquish all parental rights, according to Snell.
"I think they set her up big time," said Snell. "She's not capable of doing something like that."
Detectives said they have evidence to prove Silva set up a plot to kill the couple, which involved her young daughters.
"The grandmother actually located a knife in one of the children's bedrooms, underneath the pillow," said Det. Mitchell.
Authorities in North Carolina said Silva turned herself into the Pitt County Sheriff's Office Monday. She is charged with four counts of first degree solicitation to commit murder.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:37 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:37:03 GMT
St. Petersburg Police Officers have arrested three people for a home invasion and beating that left a 63-year-old woman in critical condition on Wednesday morning.
St. Petersburg Police Officers have arrested three people for a home invasion and beating that left a 63-year-old woman in critical condition on Wednesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:53:22 GMT
The state admits it dropped the ball, but 51 year old Wes Diebold lost his license over a 2 dollar mistake.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:30:01 GMT
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:56 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:56:22 GMT
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
Friday, May 17 2013 7:36 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:36:31 GMT
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
Friday, May 17 2013 5:00 AM EDT2013-05-17 09:00:46 GMT
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:29 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:29:23 GMT
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:12 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:12:48 GMT
The man who famously put down his Big Mac to help rescue three women held captive for a decade in an Ohio house will never have to pay for another burger in his hometown.
The man who famously put down his Big Mac to help rescue three women held captive for a decade in an Ohio house will never have to pay for another burger in his hometown.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:31 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:31:38 GMT
Federal forecasters are predicting yet another busy hurricane season. Thursday's outlook calls for 13 to 20 named storms, 7 to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and 3 to 6 that become major hurricanes. The
Federal forecasters are predicting yet another busy hurricane season. Thursday's outlook calls for 13 to 20 named storms, 7 to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and 3 to 6 that become major hurricanes. The
Leigh Spann joined WFLA in September, 2007. You can catch her forecasts every weekday morning starting at 4:30am. Since so many people ask, she says she wakes up at 2am and goes to bed at 7pm!
Leigh Spann joined WFLA in September, 2007. You can catch her forecasts every weekday morning starting at 4:30am. Since so many people ask, she says she wakes up at 2am and goes to bed at 7pm!
