San Diego officials investigating an alleged murder-for-hire plot involving Christian metal singer Tim Lambesis found dozens of vials of what appeared to be steroids and thousands of dollars in cash in the musician’s bedroom, a detective testified Monday.
Homicide investigators found a lock box in Lambesis’ Carlsbad home containing “a lot of different quantities” of male enhancement-type drugs, male libido-type drugs and estrogen blocking drugs, Det. John Buckley with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department testified.
There were approximately 30 to 40 vials along with different types of pill packages with more than $12,000 in cash, the detective said.
The steroids were found after the singer of the Grammy-nominated Christian metal band "As I Lay Dying" was arrested on charges of solicitation of another to commit murder and conspiracy to commit a crime on May 7.
Prosecutors allege that Lambesis approached a trainer from his gym on Apr. 23 and asked if the person knew anyone who could kill his wife, Meggan Lambesis of Del Mar.
"He wanted to know if maybe I could find someone to do it for him," personal trainer Brett Kimball testified in court Monday.
Prosecutors claim Lambesis provided the undercover agent with an envelope containing $1,000 cash for expenses, his wife’s address and gate codes, pictures of her and specific dates when he would have the children and thus, an alibi.
Deputy Howard Bradley described the meeting in which Lambesis handed him a manila envelope containing 10 $100 bills during a preliminary hearing Monday in San Diego Superior Court in Vista.
“He told me he wanted his wife gone,” Bradley testified.
He went on to explain how Lambesis immediately agreed to the $20,000 fee and said he had already withdrawn the money from his bank account.
Local
Lambesis explained he wanted his wife dead because she was going to get up to 60-percent of his income and would not allow their children – ages 4, 8, and 10 – to go on tour with him, the deputy testified.
Court documents reveal Meggan Lambesis had filed for divorce in September 2012 to end the couple’s 8-year marriage.
In the divorce records obtained by the Associated Press, Meggan Lambesis claims the rocker had become "obsessed with bodybuilding" and was distracted with the children, even falling asleep once while watching them. She also claimed he has spent thousands of dollars on tattoos.
The divorce and custody issues are still pending.
The judge bound over Lambesis for trial. He'll be in court next on Oct. 22 for an arraignment. At that time, a trial date will be set.
