A Merrill woman is being held in Marathon County on a $250,000 cash bond after being charged with attempting to arrange the murder of her boyfriend.
Jessica Strom, 33, has been charged in Marathon County Court with conspiracy to commit first degree intentional homicide. She faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted.
Strom made her first appearance in court Monday, at which time the judge set the high cash bond.
According to court records, Strom attempted to hire a man with whom she had attended criminal justice classes at Northcentral Technical College to kill the boyfriend. The man refused and contacted law enforcement. He then agreed to participate in a sting operation, meeting with Strom at a Wausau restaurant while she laid out her plans for the murder. Strom reportedly offered him $1,000 and sex in exchange for the murder.
A preliminary hearing in the case is set for March 12.