BURLINGTON, Vt. -
A cross-country murder-for-hire plot is becoming downright bizarre as more details emerge. Last month, we first told you about a foiled murder scheme in Vermont.
Tonight, more on the latest twist... Another hit, against pop star Justin Bieber!
This is definitely a strange one, and it all starts with a man who's already behind bars for killing a Barre, Vermont teen back in 2000. Well police say, that man, Dana Martin hired Staake and Ruane to kill Justin Bieber, but put a stop to his own plan.
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If you have Justin Bieber fever, brace yourself.
We've known Mark Staake and Tanner Ruane had plans to commit the crime, but today we've learned it was Justin Bieber whom they planned to attack.
"I have such Bieber fever," University of Vermont freshman Jessica Okrant screamed!
Apparently so did Dana Martin, the mastermind behind the murder-for-hire plot to kill singing sensation Justin Bieber, his body guard, and two others. Police say Martin even has a tattoo of the teen on his leg. But when letters to the star went unanswered, Martin's obsession turned into rage.
"It's like impossible with security; it's just a ridiculous idea," Okrant said.
In jail, Martin met Mark Staake. Police say he convinced Staake and Staake's nephew Tanner Ruane to kidnap, strangle and castrate the Biebs.
The plan was set for just a few weeks ago at one of Bieber's sold out concerts in New York City. But Martin ended up confessing to the very plot he'd concocted. Staake was arrested at the Highgate border, Ruane in Rotterdam, New York. In their car, police found pruning shears, supposedly the same ones that were going to be used to castrate Bieber. The plan was to sell each testicle for $2,500.
"I would cry," Okrant said.
Even non "Beliebers" are appalled by the grizzly plot.
"I'm actually a big non fan of Justin Bieber, but I don't think the guy deserves to be castrated," UVM sophomore's Jordan Goldstein and Dan Elliott said.
Martin is the same man that was convicted of strangling barre teen Deandra Florucci with a paisley neck tie, police say Martin ordered Staake to use the same type of tie on Bieber.
Martin told Staake he could hide out at the Lottery Hill Farm in Woodstock, VT that he lied about owning after committing the crime.
Dana Martin told police he was seeking notoriety, so that people outside of prison would know who he was.
Both Mark Staake and Tanner Ruane are in custody, and are waiting to be sent back to New Mexico.
