3rd person charged in contract killing of Florida woman

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Police say a third person has been arrested in the contract killing of a Florida woman.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s officials say 37-year-old Stephen Shelton Hand was charged Tuesday with murder in the May 9 stabbing death of 44-year-old Velvet Love Burns.

The Florida Times-Union reports Burns’ 50-year-old husband, Jerry Allen Burns, and his 30-year-old mistress Amanda Lee Love were arrested on murder charges in June.

Investigators say the slaying was staged to look like a burglary. Burns told detectives he left home that morning and a friend found his wife’s body later.

Burns is accused of offering Love $5,000 to drive other suspects to the home to kill his wife.

The sheriff’s office says Hand was seen stabbing Love Burns and destroying evidence.

Jail records don’t list attorneys for the suspects.