Detectives with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office say they successfully prevented a murder-for-hire plot in Hillsboro, arresting three men and seizing more than $140,000 in cash, firearms, and weapons before anyone was harmed.
Murder Plot Discovered Inside Jail
According to investigators, the scheme was uncovered by detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit, who learned that 58-year-old Dru Hendrix had allegedly conspired with 50-year-old Mario Guaderrama and 36-year-old Zion Unga to kill a targeted victim. Authorities say the three men developed the plan while incarcerated together in the Washington County Jail.
Detectives allege that Hendrix arranged to pay Unga $30,000 after his release from jail in October and also deposited another $30,000 into Guaderrama’s jail account as part of the murder payment. The plan was intercepted before it could be carried out.
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Arrests and Charges
On Thursday, November 6, detectives arrested Zion Unga, who had recently been released from custody. Hendrix and Guaderrama, who remain jailed on unrelated charges, were both served with new arrest warrants.
All three men now face conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree. Hendrix faces additional charges of solicitation to commit murder and witness tampering, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Weapons and Cash Seized
The same day, investigators executed a search warrant at a Hillsboro residence connected to Guaderrama, where they found a significant stockpile of weapons. The search turned up:
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Three handguns
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One rifle
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A silencer
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A switchblade knife
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Brass knuckles
Detectives also seized roughly $140,000 in cash from bank accounts linked to the suspects, which authorities believe was intended to fund the murder plot.
Ongoing Investigation
All three suspects remain in custody as prosecutors move to deny bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and the risk to public safety. Detectives say the investigation is still ongoing and that additional charges may be filed as they continue to review financial records and evidence collected from the search.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office credited its Violent Crimes Unit for swiftly acting on intelligence that helped prevent a potential killing.
Officials are urging anyone with further information about the case to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office tip line.
