Emma Guinness
A former Florida sex worker was jailed for 16 years thanks to one key mistake after she tried and failed to hire a hitman to kill her husband.
Dalia Dippolito, whose husband hired her for sex before they formed a relationship, was convicted in 2017 and jailed for 16 years for the solicitation of first degree murder at the age of 34.
Unbeknownst to her, instead of a hitman, she told an undercover officer in 2009 that she was '5,000 percent sure' that she wanted her then-husband Michael Dippolito murdered.
This fatal mistake was captured on camera in footage that went viral when it was made public after Dalia claimed it was a stunt for reality TV.
Advert
In the video, she can be seen calling for her husband of six month's death and agreeing to pay the supposed hitman $7,000 to do it.
Mike claimed that within a month of tying the knot, his new bride was stealing from him and attempting to have him incarcerated by placing drugs in his vehicle.
She also allegedly attempted to kill him herself by spiking his tea with antifreeze.
Circuit Judge Glenn Kelley said she acted in a 'cold and calculated manner' and cited additional evidence that she may have been manipulating two other men to this end.
"This particular crime was committed not in an unsophisticated way, but in a sophisticated way in a calculated fashion," Kelley said. "There was a plan put in place by Dalia Dippolito to kill Mike Dippolito."
Prosecutors speculated that she wanted her ex-husband dead so that she could receive his assets and savings
Craig Williams, a prosecutor, described her as 'a master manipulator' and said she had to be locked up for the good of society.
"If she wants something, first-degree murder is not enough for her," he said. "She'll do whatever it takes."
While it was argued that Dalia should have received a 30-year sentence, it was reduced because of her good behaviour while on house arrest.
Mike said that her actions have ruined his life.
"People will say, 'You're really lucky to be alive,'" he said. "I guess but I can't get to that because I had to deal with this nonsense for nine years."
Dalia denied the charges against her while under house arrest and that's when she tried to claim the video filmed in the car was a stunt to make her a reality TV star.
She claimed that her ex-husband was complicit in this stunt, which he denied.
"I am 5,000 percent sure she tried to kill me," Mike said in response to his ex-wife's claims.