APPLETON, WI – Authorities in Outagamie County say a woman is facing serious charges after allegedly attempting to hire a hitman to murder her mother and stepfather, motivated by longstanding family grievances and the promise of a large inheritance.

Prosecutors allege Lindsey Fuecht, 43, solicited an acquaintance earlier this month to help arrange the killings, expressing deep resentment over her mother’s failure to intervene or report an instance of sexual abuse that she claims occurred during her childhood. Fuecht reportedly told the acquaintance, “she’s ruining my life,” yet also stated that she loved her mother.

According to court records, Fuecht discussed her plan with the acquaintance—who later became a confidential informant for law enforcement—while at her workplace, a local mental health facility. The informant initially believed Fuecht might not be serious, but she allegedly repeated her desire to have her mother killed and asked if the informant had ever killed anyone before.

Law enforcement intervened after the acquaintance reported the conversations to police on August 18. After receiving guidance from investigators, the informant maintained contact with Fuecht, recording a series of discussions as the plan progressed. Fuecht allegedly expressed willingness to pay for the murders and offered to provide a down payment while she waited for her annual tax refund.

During recorded meetings, Fuecht detailed to the informant and later to an undercover officer how the deaths should appear natural, referencing the use of poisonous plants and suggesting tampering with medical equipment. She allegedly insisted that the murders not happen simultaneously, prioritizing her stepfather as the first intended target.

At one point, Fuecht suggested the use of oleander—a toxic flower she claimed she could grow—or tampering with her stepfather’s sleep apnea machine. For her mother, Fuecht reportedly dismissed the idea of a violent act, proposing instead to make a potential death look like a fall in the shower or a non-violent suffocation.

Authorities say Fuecht also discussed her prospective inheritance, stating both her parents were retired and that she expected to receive “a couple million dollars” upon their deaths. She initially offered a Samsung tablet as collateral before allegedly securing a verbal agreement for an upfront payment of $10,000 with an additional $10,000 to follow completion of the act, and a promise of a $100,000 total payout from her inheritance.

Fuecht’s alleged plans unraveled when she met with the informant and the undercover officer in an unmarked car on August 21. During the encounter, she reiterated her desire for both her mother and stepfather to be killed and discussed various methods in detail. She was taken into custody shortly afterward.

She has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide. Her bond has been set at $100,000 cash.

Fuecht appeared via video for an initial hearing and is scheduled for further court proceedings in the coming weeks. If convicted, she faces significant prison time under Wisconsin law, given the severity of the charges.

No harm came to Fuecht’s mother or stepfather, as authorities intercepted the plot before any attempt was made. The investigation remains ongoing.