The dissolution of a marriage has a number of quite extensive ramifications. The majority of the time, there are custody disputes, divorce proceedings, and various forms of animosity in between.
However, some people also decide to employ a murder-for-hire scheme in a unique and risky way to get rid of their wives. We talk about one such case in this piece that was featured on ID “I Went Undercover: Family Business” and “Dateline: The Eastlake Conspiracy.”
Who is Christine Metter?
Christine Zombory Metter of Beachwood, Ohio, is the mother of four daughters and was formerly married to David Metter. January 2009 saw their separation. Calling her a terrific mother, the ex-husband acknowledged that things had altered quickly following the divorce.
In fact, it was discovered that their daughter, who was 13 at the time, had skipped 30 days of school in a single year. After that, he was granted custody of the child and was working on getting his other daughters granted custody as well.
Christine Metter (then 41) contacted Patrick Sabo, an old high school buddy, at this same time in May 2011. He made the quip, “Save your money and hire a hitman!” when they were chatting on Facebook Messenger about her problems with a strained, broken marriage. LMAO,” to which she simply shot back, “Lol.”
But just a few hours after this specific conversation, Christine invited her longtime friend Al Zombory, a former police officer, to dinner.
That evening, at a restaurant in Lake County, Al brought up the topic of killing David right away. He even went so far as to give Sabo David’s photo and his Georgian address in exchange for $50,000 for the assignment.
Evidently troubled by this, Sabo called the police, who told him to inform the two that he had located a far better hitman.
Thus, a covert operation was conducted. After being informed of the plan, Christine’s former partner, Detective Christopher Bowerstock, assumed the role of the hitman.
On June 3, 2011, the police officer—still posing as the hitman—informed Christine and Zombory that the mission was completed. He even displayed a staged photo of David with blood all over him and a “bullet hole” in his skull.
The father acknowledged hearing the “hitman” remark, “I shot him in the head like you guys wanted me to do,” on the audiotape.
The payment was covered in another segment of the podcast. As you can see, the $1.5 million insurance policy in David’s name was payable to Christine Metter. “I want $100,000,” the officer declared. When is the deadline for this policy? “Well, after they find him, okay?” said Zombory. Eastlake Police then took the father and daughter into custody.
Christine Metter: Where is She Now?
Christine Metter entered a not guilty plea throughout her trial. “The last nine months have been a living hell with the girls and me being apart,” she declared. Please, respectable one. Allow me to demonstrate my continued value to society.
She was a wonderful parent, as her sister Elizabeth Kiley attested, saying, “They miss their mom.” They both need and want their mother. S. Michael Lear, her attorney, acknowledged that the father had misled his client.
Other than this, Christine said in her evidence that David had been a violent spouse to her during their union: “He hit me in the head, he shoved me into the door, and he kneeled me in the stomach.”
She made an additional attempt to harm him by claiming that in 2000 he dated a coworker and later hired her when he moved to a new firm. She also attacked Sabo in her defense, saying the friend was merely seeking attention.
Nevertheless, Christine was convicted of conspiring to commit aggravated murder, and none of these accusations were proven. The maximum term for the offense was given to her, which is ten years in prison. Judge Eugene Lucci of Lake County declared, “I find an unbelievable lack of regret.”
This was more of an act of retaliation for David Metter’s unwavering diligence in protecting his girls. Based on available information, she was released from state prison in March 2021 and is presently making every effort to start over under the supervision of the Adult Parole Authority (APA). In 2026, her probation will expire.
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