WASHINGTON – An Annapolis man is charged with trying to hire someone to murder his wife.

Wendell Brian Mansel approached a Leesburg, Va., man asking for help in finding a contract killer, according to Leesburg police. That man contacted police and officers began an operation using an undercover officer who posed as a hit man.

Mansel traveled to Leesburg over the course of a few weeks and met with the undercover officer to lay out specifically how he wanted his wife killed, police say.

On August 3, Mansel delivered a gun and other valuables to the officer as partial payment for the hit, police say. Officers arrested Mandel that afternoon.

Mansel is charged with attempted capital murder, murder for hire and soliciting murder for hire. He is being held without bond.

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