A Boynton Beach man, Michael Pine, 55, finds himself back in custody after law enforcement officials state he attempted to hire a hitman to murder his ex-wife. This information comes following his recent release from prison on prior charges, including aggravated stalking and insurance fraud. The Broward Sheriff’s Office detailed the arrest of Pine, who now faces charges of attempted premeditated murder and criminal attempt to solicit a capital felony.
During his incarceration, Pine repeatedly expressed a desire to have his ex-wife killed, referring to her derogatorily as the "Custom Suburban," according to NBC Miami. Following his release in February, Pine allegedly offered $10,000 to an individual for the hit, who was in fact an undercover detective from BSO. "This is a rabid dog that needs to be put down," Pine is said to have told the detective.
The exchange reportedly took a tangible turn when Pine paid the undercover detective a $2,000 down payment on Wednesday in Deerfield Beach. The arrest report was clear, the next day the undercover detective convinced Pine that the murder was completed, showing him staged photos. Pine is believed to have promised to pay the remaining $8,000 thereafter.
Prior attempts by Pine to have his ex-wife murdered via the dark web had already drawn the attention of the FBI, who seized his electronic devices but failed to procure conclusive evidence. BSO detectives arrested Pine subsequent to his admission of the crime, booking him into the Broward County jail. His frank admission, as reported by WSVN, solidifies the gravity of these allegations.
