A great grandfather has been arrested by authorities in North Carolina after they say the 70-year-old man tried to hire a hit-man to kill an individual who owed him money.

According to deputies in Alexander County, Jackie Fox attempted to pay an individual $2,500 to commit the act of murder, WSOC-TV reported.

Authorities reportedly launched an investigation earlier this week after they received a tip. Fox was arrested during a traffic stop and is being held on $750,000 bond.

His wife, Geraldine, is stunned.

"I was in shock. I cannot believe this," she told WSOC-TV.

[sharequote align="center"]"I was in shock. I cannot believe this."[/sharequote]

"It's not my husband. Who would do something like that? I've known him for 54 years and he is a sweetheart," she added, contending that perhaps her husband became confused from medication he was taking at the time.

Authorities, however, say they have a airtight case against him.

"The information we received was very serious and we felt we needed to respond quickly as possible," Alexander County Sheriff Chris Bowman said.

--

Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter

[related]