Murder Foiled After Man 'Butt Dialed' Target While Hiring Hit Man: Police

An Arkansas man is in jail after police say he "butt dialed" a man he was plotting to kill while discussing the details with a hit man.

Jonesboro police Sergeant Doug Formon said 68-year-old Larry Barnett accidentally called his former employee as he explained in detail to a hit man how he wanted the man killed.

"Basically, he overheard a conversation between that individual and another unknown male and he was giving out his personal information, his address, where he lives," Formon told KAIT-TV.

Larry Barnett allegedly butt dialed his former employee while plotting his murder with a hit man. (Source: Craighead County Sheriff's Department via KAIT)

The man then contacted immediately contacted authorities. When they arrived on the scene, there was still an active phone connection to the intended target.

"The conversation on the phone had already ended but the phone call was still active to Mr. Barnett's cellphone," Formon said.

"I've been here now for 25 years and I've never recalled a time when a subject has accidentally, if you will, 'butt-dialed' someone they're either trying to commit a crime against or the possible victim of the crime," he added to KAIT-TV.

According to an affidavit, Barnett told the hit man, "I don't care if you have to burn his house to the ground with him in it" and instructed him to "make it look like an accident."

The target also apparently overheard his former boss say, "I owe the little son of a***** a bunch of money and if he's gone, I don't have to pay for it."

Barnett's bond was initially set to $1 million, but lowered Monday to $50,000, according to KAIT-TV.

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