By now, most of you know the story he had cooked up, where he would attend a party for his latest cookbook, "The Love Diet," while two homeless hitmen murdered his wife of 17 years.
The strange plan was ruined when the would-be killers went to the police.
What made the plot even stranger was what Juan-Carlos Cruz told police, he said he did it for love.
"Even though I was planning on whacking her, I'm very devoted. I know that's weird," Cruz told police when he was arrested.
Cruz said he wanted to spare his sweetheart the pain and despair of not being able to conceive a child after a decade of fertility treatments.
"His wife was brokenhearted and lamenting over the treatments. The defendant then said that this was a 'merciful' way to end her suffering."
Cruz was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison after pleading no contest, attempting to hire two homeless men to slash the throat of his wife.
Cruz said he and Campbell had spent more than $200,000 on failed fertility treatments and were deep in debt as a result.
Cruz, 48, told police he had considered killing himself and his wife on Mother's Day because it was the most difficult holiday for her, but instead decided to live and hire someone else to kill her.
Police said Cruz gave the men 10, $100 bills that had been cut in half and said he would provide the other halves after the killing.
Police later found the remaining half-bills in Cruz's wallet.
Police said Cruz gave the men 10, $100 bills that had been cut in half and said he would provide the other halves after the killing.
Police later found the remaining half-bills in Cruz's wallet.
For days, the homeless men communicated with Cruz on cell phones and in person to get instructions. The report said one of the men was given the key code to the couple's Westwood condominium and shown the location of surveillance cameras.
At this point, police detectives had Cruz under surveillance and videotaped him driving the man to the condo.
Cruz was concerned that his dogs not be harmed (only his wife) and gave the man treats to keep the animals quiet.
Cruz first discussed having his wife's throat slashed with a box cutter, the report said, but also suggested strangling her with her pantyhose to avoid a bloody mess.
Cruz first discussed having his wife's throat slashed with a box cutter, the report said, but also suggested strangling her with her pantyhose to avoid a bloody mess.
But then he said, "If it ends up bloody, that's fine ... But I prefer not to have a mess."
Cruz told detectives he got the idea for his wife's death from a mystery novel but came up with the idea to cut the bills himself.
In a plea bargain with Cruz, prosecutors dropped a more serious count of attempted murder.
His lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holly, said Cruz will probably serve half his sentence because no violent crime was committed and he has no significant prior criminal record.
His lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holly, said Cruz will probably serve half his sentence because no violent crime was committed and he has no significant prior criminal record.
