Indian River County, Florida – A disturbing case has shaken the Indian River County community, where Andrew Mustips, a 70 -year -old man previously convicted of a sexual crime with a minor, has been arrested again, this time accused of orchestrating a murder plot on commission to silence his victim. The Sheriff’s office of Indian River County (IRCSO) revealed the details of this plot during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, showing a video in which Mustick, speaking with an undercover officer, said coldly: “It would be cheaper to simply kill her.”
According to the authorities, Mustips was arrested on Wednesday and faces two charges at a serious criminal request. It is currently in custody with a bond established at 7 million dollars.
This new arrest occurs after its guilt declaration in March for a sex position with a minor, a crime for which it was scheduled to receive a sentence next month.
Sheriff Eric Flowers explained that Mustapick faced a one -year sentence, which would probably turn eight months, but was more concerned about the 10 years that should be registered as a sexual offender. “This guy is an absolute animal,” said Flowers, visibly outraged at the idea that someone considered a murder for such a short sentence.
The murder plot
The investigation that led to Mustick’s arrest began in March, after a complaint of a relative who alerted the authorities about their intentions. According to Sheriff Flowers, Mustick met with an undercover officer who passed a hitman and paid $ 40,000 to persuade the victim of not testifying against him. In addition, he is accused of offering another $ 50,000 to kill her if she persisted in her intention to declare in the trial. The authorities highlighted the seriousness of the case, noting that Mustick seemed willing to everything to avoid the legal consequences of their actions.
-Background of the case
The original case involving Mustick dates back to 2021, when the victim, then, denounced the crime committed a year earlier. According to his testimony, Mustick offered to buy a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta from the victim’s friend in exchange for sexual favors. However, the friend, 18 at that time, refused to fulfill the agreement. The victim, on the other hand, agreed to participate, and that was when Mustick presented a contract that, according to Ircso’s affidavit, forced her to be her “sex slave” twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, for the next five years. The document also detailed the time she had to pass with him.
The victim said he met the demands of the contract twice before refusing to continue. In response, Mustick recovered the vehicle he had bought. After the complaint, the authorities worked with the victim to contact Mustick, who was recorded in calls and text messages while negotiating a new similar agreement. In these conversations, the victim referred to the previous contract, to which Mustick replied: “Honey, I just put those things in writing to cover my backs.” Although he avoided discussing details of the initial contract in a last call and ended up hanging, the evidence collected were sufficient for their arrest for the position of sex with minor.
Sheriff Flowers emphasized the importance of citizen cooperation, highlighting that a relative’s complaint was key to frustrating Mustick’s plans. “This case demonstrates how crucial the surveillance of the community is and the courage of the victims who report,” he said.
While Mustips awaits his next audience, the community of Vero Beach reflects on the implications of this case, which highlights the extremes to which some are willing to arrive to evade justice. The authorities have assured that they will continue to investigate to ensure that there are no more victims or accomplices related to this case.
