Florida Man Planned to Blame Black Lives Matter in His Murder-For-Hire Plot

By Alyssa Wilson Published: July 15, 2021

Florida Man Planned to Blame Black Lives Matter in His Murder-For-Hire Plot

FILE - In this July 11, 2020 file photo, Alycia Pascual-Pena, left, and Marley Ralph kneel while holding a Black Lives Matter banner during a protest in memory of Breonna Taylor, in Los Angeles. Taylor was killed in her apartment by members of the Louisville, Ky., Metro Police Department on March 13. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

By: Alyssa Wilson

A Florida man who allegedly hired a hitman to kill his ex-girlfriend and her family planned to blame the murders on the Black Lives Matter movement.

According to NBC News, 51-year-old Daniel Slater of Jupiter, Florida, was arrested on charges of murder for hire, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to possess. In the failed plan, Slater is accused of requesting someone to help him kill his ex-girlfriend, sister, and brother-in-law.

Slater, who thought his girlfriend’s family ruined the relationship, offered to give an associate money and drugs to commit the crime, according to court documents.

The federal agency began investigating Slater in February 2020 after the body of 26-year-old Brianne Slabaugh was found in Everglades National Park. A criminal complaint alleges Slater asked her to conduct surveillance on his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend before instructing her to kill him.

A medical examiner in Fort Lauderdale reported Slabaugh’s cause of death was an accidental drug overdose, the Sun-Sentinel reported. The investigation into her death led the FBI to Slater’s associate.

In June 2020, the associate was wearing a recording device during a meeting with Slater, where he gave specific instructions on how his ex-girlfriend and her family should be killed. He then told the associate to spray paint “Black Lives Matter” on the home to make it seem like members of the movement were responsible.

Slater paid his associate and a hitman, who was an undercover FBI agent, $400 to carry out the murders. He was later arrested and charged. Slater originally pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty as part of a plea deal.

He could have faced 90 years in jail if he had been convicted on all the charges, but he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years under the plea deal. His sentencing is scheduled for September 16.

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