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M/CLEAR Temp: 44 °F Wind: NW at 4 mph Tuesday, April 1, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 1, 2003 Murder-for-hire suspect arrainged Richard Guinn of Medford faces charges of attempted aggravated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation for the murder of Judy Weaver of Phoenix By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A Phoenix woman’s family says that an alleged conspiracy to kill her is the culmination of years of harassment in the wake of a bizarre custody dispute. Police say that Richard Linwood Guinn hatched a plot to kill 42-year-old Judy Weaver, the mother of his 3-year-old daughter. Investigators said Guinn recently had offered a 17-year-old Talent boy $35,000 to murder Weaver, who lives in Phoenix. Guinn, 52, was arraigned in Jackson County Circuit Court Monday on charges of attempted aggravated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation for murder. He was arrested Thursday at his home in the 2500 block of Fontaine Circle, Medford. "She won custody, and he flipped out, basically," said Weaver’s sister, Tanya Haller. In exchange for $12,000, Weaver had reportedly agreed in a written contract to be a surrogate mother to Guinn’s child, which was to be conceived through artificial insemination. The couple later decided to conceive a child without medical assistance but did not alter the written agreement. Weaver and Guinn met through a mutual friend in 1998. "He kind of wooed her and made her think that he had feelings for her," said Weaver’s sister Annette Henney. When their daughter, Riki, was born in May 1999, Weaver let Guinn take the baby home. But she filed a custody suit about a month later when Guinn told her that she couldn’t visit the child. Weaver claimed that her contract with Guinn was void because the couple did not conceive through artificial insemination, as specified. Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Phil Arnold awarded Weaver custody but granted Guinn substantial visitation. Arnold also ordered Weaver to return half of the $12,000 to Guinn. Guinn appealed the decision. Oregon’s Court of Appeals in 2001 upheld the original verdict, indicating that judges do not have to uphold surrogacy agreements in determining what is in the child’s best interest. Guinn continually threatened Weaver after she was granted custody of their daughter, Haller said, adding that he told Weaver ‘This isn’t over yet,’ following the appeals court decision. Weaver met Guinn in public places, sometimes with a court liaison, to relinquish Riki to her father, Haller said. During their custody battle, Arnold had granted Weaver a temporary restraining order, according to court documents. "He kept threatening her when he went to exchange (the child)," Haller said. Investigators said that Guinn met with the 17-year-old boy more than once to discuss how the boy would kill Weaver and receive his payment. Guinn knew the boy’s family, who contacted police a week ago about the murder plot, investigators said. The boy cooperated with detectives, according to a media release prepared by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Weaver’s family said they attended Guinn’s court hearing in her place because she was too afraid to attend. Weaver, Riki, and Weaver’s 9-year-old girl from another relationship are living in a home provided by the Jackson County district attorney’s Victim and Witness Program. Guinn remained in the Jackson County Jail on $1 million bail. His family refused to talk to reporters. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S