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Hernando Today

Another Suspect Arrested In Alleged Murder-For-Hire

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: January 1, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Another suspect was linked Monday to the case of a wife accused of hiring a band of hit-men to kill her husband.

Esnel Baptiste, 23, of Orlando, is charged with armed kidnapping and home invasion.

The account he provided to detectives is mostly in line with what the other suspects said, according to an affidavit, which starts the chain of events in Brooksville with Jacqucia Francois.

Francois went through an acquaintance in Orlando, Kedner Noel, to hire the alleged hit-men, an affidavit states. The three that were hired to kill the husband - Baptiste, Frans Guerrier and a man known only as "Mitch" - met with Francois on Nov. 16 in Spring Hill to get instructions and the layout of the Francois home, investigators say.

Baptiste reportedly told investigators that he was instructed only to "hurt" the victim, Fenol Francois, and that it wasn't until afterward he discovered their purpose was to kill him.

On Nov. 18, the trio broke into the house at 8110 Nightwalker Road to complete their task, but their quarry had left for work early that morning to fill up on gas, an affidavit shows.

They were further frustrated when it was discovered that the drugs and cash promised as payment were not in the house, an affidavit shows. The suspects tied up the couple's 13-year-old son at gunpoint and waited for Jacqucia Francois to return from her night shift at Wal-Mart, an affidavit states.

When Francois arrived, Mitch went out to argue with her and caused a ruckus in the front yard that attracted the attention of neighbors. The suspects escaped, but not before a motorist recorded the license plate on the getaway van and reported it to the sheriff's office.

Detectives say they uncovered the conspiracy behind what was initially reported as a home invasion and began making arrests the weekend of Dec. 16. Francois, 46, was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder; Noel, 33, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and principal in the first degree; Guerrier, 34, of Orlando, were arrested Nov. 20 and charged with armed home invasion and kidnapping.

Still on the loose is "Mitch."

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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