Friday, May 14, 2010

Ex-Food Network Chef Accused In Murder Plot

SANTA MONICA (AP) ― Santa Monica police say a celebrity chef on the Food Network has been arrested for allegedly trying to solicit homeless people to commit a murder.

Police Sgt. Jay Trisler says Juan-Carlos Cruz was arrested Thursday and booked on suspicion of solicitation to commit murder.

Trisler says officers were contacted on May 7 by homeless individuals who were solicited by the suspect to kill someone.

Trisler says the people who were solicited agreed to help Santa Monica police in the investigation. During the investigation, detectives learned the murder-for-hire method, where and when the individual was to be killed and the terms of payment.

Trisler says the intended victim has been notified.

Cruz hosts the Food Network program, "Calorie Commando." Cruz is also a judge on the popular show "Chopped."

He's being held on $5 million bail.

1 comment:

Rachel said...

I kept waiting for the punchline in that story... then clicked the link and saw it was real.