Bond set in alleged murder-for-hire plot

CIRCLEVILLE – After allegedly sharing plans with an undercover deputy for killing a Scioto County resident, a Circleville woman was arrested Tuesday evening and arraigned Wednesday morning on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.

Pickaway County Sheriff Robert Radcliff told the Gazette Wednesday that the department's investigation into the activities of Tara Lambert, 32, began July 21 when a patrol deputy learned of a potential murder plot from someone with knowledge of what Lambert was allegedly planning. The deputy passed the information along to a detective, who met with a supervisor and with Radcliff to figure out how to deal with the investigation.

As part of the approach, an undercover detective from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office was brought in to pose in a meeting with Lambert as someone interested in helping carry out the plan. The meeting took place a little after 5 p.m. Tuesday in the south business district off U.S. 23 in Circleville. According to Radcliff's office, Lambert allegedly worked out details with the detective for the killing of a Scioto County woman and provided money and a photo of the intended victim.

Following the meeting, Lambert went into the Walmart store on South Court Street in Circleville and was taken into custody without incident after leaving the store.

Radcliff said authorities made contact Tuesday night with the woman whose identity and photo had been provided to the detective during the meeting and that the woman had been completely unaware of any sort of potential plot against her. As the investigation continues, authorities have not offered a possible motive behind the alleged plot.

Radcliff said an effort to contact the woman would have been made earlier in the investigation if authorities had any reason to believe she was in immediate danger, adding that they are confident Lambert had not been actively shopping around for someone to help carry out the alleged plan and that the undercover detective was the first person who had been approached.

Lambert was taken Tuesday night to the Pickaway County Jail on the conspiracy to commit murder charge and bail was set at $500,000 during Wednesday morning's arraignment. A preliminary hearing will take place the first week of August.