Allegan- Investigators say the suspects in 36 year old Troy Tyo's death may have started planning the murder long before he was killed.
During preliminary testimony detectives say Lori Lathrop, alleged killer Kristopher Thompson's sister, was trying to recruit accomplices as early as a month before the crime.
"Lori was attempting to get assistance for Kris at Kris's request to assist in this attack," says a detective involved in the investigation.
Lori Lathrop is accused with conspiracy and assault.
Investigators say her brother, 28 year old Kristopher Thompson, ambushed and killed Tyo on December 3.
"Mr. Thompson has admitted responsibility of initially assaulting Mr. Tyo," says an investigator. "Mr. Tyo began to move and make some statements and it was necessary for Mr. Thompson to inflict additional injury that actually caused Mr. Tyo's death."
Thompson's brother-in-law, Scott Lathrop, is accused of driving him to the scene.
And detectives say it was all Dena Thompson's idea.
She wanted her ex-husband, Troy Tyo, dead.
"According to her she wanted her current husband Kristopher to kill her former husband Troy," says a detective in the Allegan County Sheriff's Department. "During an interview with Dena she indicated having knowledge of Troy's murder and assisting in the murder."
According to court documents, instead of shared custody Dena Thompson wanted sole custody of the two children she had with Troy Tyo.
She also wanted child support payments.
Troy Tyo was murdered two weeks after a judge denied her request and dismissed her petition.
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