The Leesburg Police Department arrested a Maryland man Aug. 3 who’s connected to a murder-for-hire case.

Wendell Brian Mansel, of Annapolis, approached a Leesburg man earlier this year saying he was trying to find a contract killer to kill his wife.

Wendell Brian Mansel

The Leesburg man contacted Leesburg Police, who then placed an undercover officer who posed as a hit man.

According to police reports, Mansel traveled to Leesburg for the past several weeks to meet with the undercover officer to layout a plan in order to kill his wife.

Leesburg Police Officers coordinated with investigators from Anne Arundel County Police in order to insure Mansel’s wife’s safety during the investigation.

Aug. 3, Mansel came to Leesburg to meet with the undercover officer. Mansel delivered a gun and other valuables, reports said, as a partial payment for the hit to the undercover officer. Mansel was then arrested and charged with attempted capital murder, murder-for-hire and soliciting murder-for-hire. He is being held at the Loudoun County Detention Center without bond.