A Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent, model and self-described 'cheer mom' offered $1,500 for a hitman to kill her mother-in-law, prosecutors say.
Leigh Ann Bauman, 43, and her ex-husband divorced in 2018, and she believed he and his mother were going to take her to court to fight for custody of her children.
Bauman was recorded discussing her plan as she tried to recruit people in St. Louis to carry out the hit and 'make it look like an accident', according the Camden County prosecutor's office.
She was given several chances to change her mind when asked by a witness-turned-informant if she wanted to go ahead but failed to do so, it is claimed.
Leigh Ann Bauman, 43, and her ex-husband divorced in 2018, and she believed he and his mother were going to take her to court to fight for custody of her children
Bauman initially approached the witness because she had gone to get her children but they refused to go with her, according to court documents seen by 13KRCG.
Afterwards, she allegedly sent her children a text telling them that their grandmother 'would die'.
The children told their father about the text and he confronted Bauman, who replied that 'she just meant [the grandmother] was old and was going to die'.
Prosecutors claim Bauman told the witness what had happened and asked her: 'Do you know anybody?'
The witness replied asking Bauman if she was asking where to get weed but Bauman allegedly replied, 'No, I want a hitman, somebody to get rid of her'.
When the witness asked Bauman if she was serious, the mother said 'she knew it was wrong as a Christian, but she would go to church and ask for forgiveness after it was done.'
On Tuesday night, Bauman is said to have called the witness asking her to come over to her house.
The witness recorded a conversation in which they claimed to have found the hitmen Bauman requested.
She then replied: 'Oh okay, that's a reasonable price.'
Bauman was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and taken to Camden County Jail. She was denied bond
Bauman told the witness she would go to the bank on Wednesday but a day later she was arrested by troopers after the witness informed on her.
Court documents say she 'gasped and blamed everything on the witness', claiming they were a 'hustler' who was trying to get money from her.
On her Facebook page, Bauman describes herself as a realtor, an artist, an entrepreneur, and a 'cheer mom' and frequently posts online about her 'track record of success.'
Her LinkedIn account mentions an acting and modeling career, with appearances on Days of Our Lives and in Nike commercials.
Bauman was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and taken to Camden County Jail. She was denied bond.
Camden County Prosecutor Caleb Cunningham said Friday: 'We're very appreciative of what the witness did in this case.
'We encourage anyone to contact law enforcement if there's a crime or suspected crime.'
'A local realtor had several political connections and the witness was aware of these political connections.
'Out of an abundance of caution, DDCC was used to avoid any hint of impropriety,' he said, referring to the Missouri Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control.
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