“It’s a complete shock to the community, a complete shock to the families.”  – Rhinelander Police Chief Lloyd Gauthier

BY EILEEN PERSIKE
Editor

Megan M. Danielczak

A phone call from a  “concerned citizen” earlier this month led  Rhinelander police detectives to open an investigation into Megan Danielczak, and the citizen’s claim that the Rhinelander woman was looking for someone to kill her husband.

Rhinelander Police Chief LLoyd Gauthier and captain Ron Lueneburg held a press conference this morning to provide new details into the arrest Thursday of Danielczak, 27, for solicitation to commit first degree intentional homicide.

According to police, investigators met with the citizen witness who was subsequently able to obtain, from  Danielczak, information on her husband’s vehicle, a photo of him and his work schedule.

“He came forward because he was concerned that if he didn’t bring this forward, she would find somebody else who would probably go through with it,” Gauthier said.

Gauthier added that it was about a week-and-a-half later that the police department contacted the Department of Justice to become involved.

A police department press release states that Danielczak met with an undercover DOJ agent, acting as a hit man, in Rhinelander Feb. 14, to give him a down payment of cash and personal property, with the understanding he would kill her husband “soon.” The remainder of the payment would be made following the husband’s death.

“Based on the totality of this investigation, investigators believe the motivating factor in this case was financial gain,” Lueneburg said. “Investigators received information that her husband has a life insurance policy through his place of employment, in which she is the beneficiary.”

Domestic abuse, which has been reported on social media, is not a motive, Gauthier said, adding that neither Danielczak nor her husband mentioned that during the investigation.

During their meeting, Danielczak reportedly stated that she was “not going to back against wanting (her husband) killed.”

“In 28 years of law enforcement I have not directly worked a case like this,” Gauthier said. “We’ve had other cases involving domestic violence and things like this but this is the first time I have seen this in 28 years.”

The investigation is continuing, Gauthier said.

“As you can imagine this is very trying on the family, on both sides of the family, very emotional, and yes we are trying to work with the families and also continue our investigation,” said Gauthier. “It’s a complete shock to the community, a complete shock to the families, there were no signs of this taking place.”

Danielczak is expected to appear in Oneida County Circuit Court today at 1:15 p.m.