PAGE 3B Mayoral candidate’s wife faces counts in contract-killing plot.

She sought to hire killer, authorities say

A Monticello woman whose husband is running for mayor was arrested Thursday after attempting to hire a contract killer, authorities said.

Stephanie Rogers, 48, faces charges of conspiracy to commit capital murder and solicitation to commit capital murder, according to a news release from the Arkansas State Police.

Rogers is the wife of former Monticello Mayor Joe Rogers, who is a candidate in the city’s mayoral election this fall. Joe Rogers, reached by telephone Friday, declined to comment.

Stephanie Rogers was a coordinator for the Monticello Youth Soccer Association, according to a 2018 registration form for the soccer teams.

State police spokesman Bill Sadler said no details about the

circumstances of the arrest will be released while the investigation is ongoing.

The Monticello Police Department reached out to the state police Tuesday and said Rogers “wanted to have a particular individual killed,” according to the state police news release.

Special agents with the state police presented their case Thursday to Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Deen, who authorized the arrest.

Troopers arrested Rogers about 3 p.m. Thursday, according to a booking sheet from the Drew County sheriff’s office.

The Monticello Police Department referred all inquiries about the case to the state police.

Rogers has no previous criminal record, according to court documents.