TV Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz Murder Plot Thickens

By PopEater Staff Posted May 16th 2010 08:50AM

Food Network Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz Murder Plot Thickens

Juan-Carlos Cruz, the former Food Network chef under arrest for a plot to murder his wife, allegedly planned to have three homeless men carry out the job. TMZ reports Cruz planned to pay the men with $1,000 in torn-up $100 bills -- half before the murder, half after.

"Have already been burned with whole bills then no show thats why do it this way," reads a text message TMZ contends was sent from Cruz to a phone provided for the homeless men. Cruz also texted that he had a second party ready for the job if his selected hit-men weren't up to the task.

The former 'Calorie Commando' and 'Weighing In' host was arrested Thursday in Santa Monica, California.

"The individuals who were solicited agreed to assist the Santa Monica Police Department in the investigation. The individuals who were solicited agreed to assist the Santa Monica Police Department in the investigation," the Santa Monica Police Department said in a statement.

Cruz was under investigation since May 7, and was finally taken into custody after an undercover operation in which the homeless men he attempted to hire recorded a conversation implicated him. TMZ interviewed the homeless men involved, who said that Cruz wanted them to strangle his wife "because stabbing leaves too much blood. He didn't want a mess."

According to TMZ, Cruz plans on pleading not guilty to the charges.

Cruz is currently being held on a $5 million bail stemming from a charge of solicitation to commit murder following his arrest last week.

Cruz hosted 'Calorie Commando' in 2004.

A Food Network executive told CBS News that Cruz and his wife -- Jennifer Campbell, his high school sweetheart -- "had always seemed so harmonious that I couldn't imagine he would have anything like that going on. ... It's hard for me to believe that the guy who was there cooking and helping people lose weight could end up in a terrible situation like this."

Tags: Juan-Carlos Cruz

Comments

(98)

Sunday 16 May

By BTDT

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At some point a news outlet will refer to this guy as the "Mastermind" of this murder plot.
I'm starting a pool.

Monday 17 May

By mickey

His goose is cooked.

By Deb

Would have been easier just to divorce her, lol. Probably wanted to murder her for the insurance. Now he has no wife and no money but he'll have a place to live - in jail!

By buster hymen

He can probably get a job in the prison kitchen.

By Larry

Three Hots and a Cot, as they say.....

By anita

well you know what his new wifes name will be dont ya? it will be BUBBA

By Bri

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divorce is worse,which is more than likely the reason.

By wayne

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lmao anita

By julie

STICK A HUGE FORK IN HIM, HE IS SO DONE.AND FOR DESSERT YOUR NEW ROOMATE, BIG BUBBA FUNNEL CAKE

By grediamc

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That is funny stuff!

By maria 27

I think he has plenty of money. Maybe a new love is the reason, and he doesn't want to give his wife half the estate, and pay alimony.

By Cynthia Williams

I agree with you Maria 27.
This is so typical news lately.

By Denia Mance

Yeah! They always ended up in prison.

By Fred

He sure was cookin' up something. "Burned before with whole bills"? How many times did he try this?

By Titangirl

Well that sucks... while he is and will be in jail for a long long time... His wife will enjoy all the money he has in the bank. Wow, 'joint account' is better than ailmony. Ha.

By ADMR

GOD Said HA Indeed...Wanna Lick Me Ask my MAN First

By J.J.

There's nothing stopping him from divorcing the golddigger from jail, and that would be the safest thing to do to prevent what you suggest from happening to him ...not that I'm defending what he tried to do.

By Jackie

HEY J J !!!! Where on earth did you get the opinion that Cruz's wife is a GOLD DIGGER???? JJ you must be gay.

By jon

Wow...I'm surprised to hear he was married. The impression I always got from his show was that he was gay.

By Paul

If he wasn't before, he will be this time next year :-)

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