An Ohio teacher is in major legal trouble after allegedly offering a student money. The money was for something very specific: to kill her husband. Of course, no adult should be offering a minor money to commit a crime, but Stephanie Demetrius didn’t really think much about that when she reportedly made the request. The teacher now faces charges and possible prison time for her alleged murder plot.
Demetrius, 44, was a substitute teacher in the Columbus area. According to court documents obtained by WSYX, she was working at The Academy For Urban Scholars High School. On March 26, 2025, she allegedly offered a student $2,000 to kill her soon-to-be ex-husband.
“This particular teacher was attempting to groom this young person into committing murder,” Columbus Division of Police Sgt. James Fuqua said.
Charging documents state that Demetrius gave the student $250 cash as a down payment. Investigators obtained records of phone calls between the woman and student. During the call, the teacher assured the student that additional payment wouldn’t be a problem.
Police reported that they learned of the alleged murder-for-hire plot from the teen’s mother. She found concerning information on her son’s phone and reached out to police.
“Without their help, some of this might not have come to light,” Fuqua said. “This was a situation where a parent was able to capture things inside this young person’s phone and contact authorities.”
Demetrius reportedly provided the student with her estranged husband’s schedule. She also made sure to note when her children would be out of the house and when her husband worked from home.
“When asked if neighbors would hear the gunfire, she advised that they don’t care about her neighbors,” the documents say.
Court records show that Demetrius and her husband were married in 2004. She filed for divorce in April 2024. This came after they first filed for divorce in 2017 before withdrawing. The divorce proceedings are ongoing.
During a virtual hearing, the public defender representing Demetrius denied the allegations saying, “this is being fabricated,” ABC News reported. When asked if she had any questions the woman replied, “Who is the juvenile involved in this case?”
Stephanie Demetrius has been charged with felony conspiracy to commit murder. Her bond was set at $150,000. She has not entered a plea.
Additionally, she has found herself out of a job. “The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority,” the Academy for Urban Scholars High School said in a statement. “We remain committed to maintaining a secure, focused learning environment where students can thrive academically and personally.”
