Melissa Coe pleads to reduced charge in murder-for-hire plot case

A former cashier at a Springfield convenience store pleaded to a reduced charge after allegedly taking an undercover agent into a camera‑free backroom to negotiate a murder‑for‑hire plot against her daughter’s boyfriend. The plea was filed on Friday, October 20, 2023, and the case now heads to a hearing in the Springfield Municipal Court on November 5.

The employee, 32‑year‑old Melissa Coe, was arrested on October 12 after police discovered a handgun and a handwritten contract in her apartment. Coe met a police officer posing as a hitman in the store’s backroom, a space that the chain has no surveillance cameras in. The officer offered to pay $10,000 for the hit. Coe told the agent that the amount was fair but that she could not pay it immediately. She agreed to a later payment, and the officer left with a copy of the contract. Coe’s daughter, 19‑year‑old Emily, is dating the target, who has a history of domestic disputes and had reportedly threatened Emily in the past.

The case has drawn attention to the safety of retail employees and the gaps in security in many stores. Springfield Police say that the undercover operation was part of a broader campaign to identify potential threats to vulnerable residents. The prosecution is pursuing a conspiracy to commit murder charge, but Coe has agreed to a plea deal that will reduce the charge to a single count of conspiracy. The deal includes a mandatory counseling program and a 12‑month probation period, after which Coe could face up to 10 years in prison if she fails to comply.

If the plea is accepted, the case could prompt the store chain to install cameras in all backrooms and review its employee safety policies. It also highlights the need for better support for employees who may be dealing with personal crises. The court will decide on the plea on November 5, after which the case may set a new precedent for how retail employees are protected from being drawn into violent crime.