Clark County businesswoman accused in a murder-for-hire plot

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) - A Clark County, Ohio businesswoman has been accused in a murder-for-hire plot.

Police set up a sting operation where they said Deborah Houston, 55, of New Carlisle, offered to pay an undercover agent $5,000 to kill her son-in-law.

Houston is now charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and aggravated arson.

She is also accused of trying to hire someone to set fire to a local attorney's office as part of her plan.

Houston worked at the family owned business, Houston Machines & Tools off Leffel Lane, in Springfield.

Court documents indicate Houston had some issues with her siblings.  She was under investigation for theft from the business and estate.

Houston allegedly told the hitman she wanted to get rid of some of her siblings, but at the top of her list was her son-in-law, David Keiter.

After authorities staged Keiter's murder, Houston allegedly paid the hitman $2,500, and asked him to burn down a local attorneys office to destroy evidence in the theft case.

Clark County Prosecutor Steven Schumaker requested a high bond, saying Houston had access to a lot of money, and she was a flight risk.

Her bond has been set at $2 million.  The case how heads to the grand jury.