A Phoenix inmate saved the life of four witnesses when she alerted prison officials of another inmate's plan to kill the witnesses in a murder-for-hire scheme, KPHO-TV, a CBS station, reported Monday.
Inmate Bernadette Beanes, of Phoenix, Arizona, was rearrested for trying to plan the murders of four witnesses, including a 9-year-old boy, before her upcoming trial date this spring. Beanes, 20, has been in jail since May 2013 for allegedly aiding her boyfriend in a kidnapping and standoff with the police.
Beanes is also accused of shooting and killing her boyfriend before she was arrested, KPHO-TV reported.
Estrella Jail inmate and Beanes' friend, Windy Panzo, learned about her friend's plot in December. Panzo, a mother of three, told Beanes she could help her, but told authorities instead.
"I'm not a snitch," Panzo told KPHO-TV. "A snitch is somebody who snitches somebody out to get them in trouble- not to save a life."
Panzo is currently serving a sentence related to drug and weapons charges. If given the chance, Panzo said she would do it again to save the kid's life.
"If I can save one little boy and these people- I would put my life on the line for that little boy and these people. Who wouldn't?" Panzo told KPHO-TV.
Beanes told an undercover officer on Jan. 10 she wanted to hire him to take out the four witnesses, showing no compassion for having a 9-year-old murdered.
"It's 5,000 a body and it's going to be paid $20,000 total when the job is completely done," Beanes told the undercover officer, KPHO-TV reported.
"Beanes wanted the murders carried out before her court date on May 12, which would result in the dismissal of her case- which would lead to her eventual release," the police report said, according to KPHO-TV.
Beanes could now be charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, in addition to the current charge of first-degree murder and 41 other charges, KPHO-TV reported.
"That little boy would not be standing here," Panzo told KPHO-TV. "And, one day, I hope to get a hug from him because that would be an honor. It's altered my life greatly from doing it."
