Judge Denies Lowered Bail For Animal Rights Activist Accused In Failed Murder-For-Hire Plot

A judge has denied a request to lower the $3 million bail of an animal rights activist accused of plotting to kill her estranged husband’s girlfriend.

Jennifer Reba Emmi, also known as Jennifer Edwards, has been accused of trying to hire a ranch hand to “take care” of her husband’s girlfriend, who had once served as the family’s au pair, according to local station KCNC-TV.

Emmi’s $3 million bond can only be paid by Emmi herself in cash, her defense attorney M. Colin Bresee told Oxygen.com.

Bresee said it’s unlikely she’ll be able to post the bond since she “will not find $3 million of cash in her jail cell.”

Emmi is facing a series of charges including conspiracy to commit murder, retaliation against a victim/witness, stalking, domestic violence, and violation of bail bond conditions, according to an affidavit in the case obtained by both Fox News and KCNC-TV.

A renowned animal rights activist and attorney, Emmi allegedly asked 28-year-old ranch hand Timothy Lindsey to help “take care of” her husband’s girlfriend toward the end of last year. But rather than carry out the deadly deed, Lindsey went to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and became an informant in the case, according to the affidavit.

Lindsey agreed to record his phone calls with Emmi, who allegedly asked “if he knew anyone who could help her get rid of” the woman.

“Nobody will miss her,” she told him, according to the affidavit.

Emmi also reportedly discussed possible ways to murder the woman — and possibly her husband — saying she was “inclined to kill two birds with one stone.”

“If there was a car accident or something, then nobody would know,” she said according to the affidavit, before later saying the plan was “on hold.”

Emmi was arrested in January following a six-month investigation, The Denver Post reports.

Bresee told Oxygen.com that his client had been upset to discover the relationship and had been venting to friends.

“In the affidavit, it is alleged that Jennifer's divorce attorney told Jennifer that the au pair had replaced her. On the same day, Jennifer first learned that the 20-something girl was sleeping in her bed, having relations with her husband, and having Jennifer's kids call the au pair 'mom,’” he said. “It is alleged that Jennifer called a few trusted friends and said some unsavory things.

"Unfortunately, one of those friends called Jennifer back, recorded the call, and reached out to share the recording with Jennifer’s husband. It is unclear what if any benefit this ‘friend’ received for his perfidy,” he added.

Before her arrest, Emmi, who is said to be struggling with health issues, founded the Animal Law Center and had launched a nonprofit ranch in Evergreen to continue her mission of helping animals.