New details have surfaced about the marriage of Christian metal rocker Tim Lambesis, arrested for allegedly hiring an undercover officer to kill his estranged wife.
NBC 7: Local Musician Arrested in Murder-for-Hire Plot
Tim Lambesis is scheduled to appear in a Vista courtroom Thursday to enter his plea on two counts: soliciting to commit murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
His estranged wife, the target in the alleged murder-for-hire plot, is pictured on her Pinterest profile as a happy mother kissing her child. The couple has three children ages 4, 8 and 10.
Neighbors in her Del Mar neighborhood described her as sweet and polite and can't understand why anyone would want to harm her.
One woman said she’s hoping the young mother is okay, since she hasn't been seen in the last week.
“I'm sure she's probably in hiding. I would be if I were her. She's so sweet, so nice and with three
kids, then to have all this,” said CJ.
Neighbors say Meggan Lambesis moved to her father's vacation home with their three adopted children from Ethiopia last year when divorce proceedings began to end the couple’s marriage.
“I just can't imagine what she could have possibly done to make this guy set a hitman on her,” said a neighbor identified as CJ. “That's awful.”
A search of court records has determined that Lambesis' wife, Meggan, filed for divorce in North County last September.
In the divorce records obtained by the Associated Press, Meggan Lambesis claims her estranged husband had become "obsessed with bodybuilding" and was distracted with the children, even falling asleep once while watching them at the beach.
She also claimed he has spent thousands of dollars on tattoos.
As the front man for the metal band As I Lay Dying, Lambesis traveled six months out of the year according to court documents. He had also traveled across the country to visit a girlfriend documents show.
San Diego County sheriff’s deputies arrested Lambesis Tuesday at an Oceanside business.
Officials said they learned last Thursday that Lambesis had solicited someone to kill his wife, and that they immediately began an investigation.
Fans around the world discussed the arrest on social media displaying shock and sadness. The band reached out to their fans, releasing an official statement Wednesday night:
"As we post this, the legal process is taking its course and we have no more information than you do. There are many unanswered questions."
Lambesis is being held without bail in the Vista Detention Center. He declined our request for an interview.
As I Lay Dying is a mainstay of the San Diego Music Awards, nominated last year for Best Hard Rock Album for Decas, and winning for Best Hard Rock the year before that.
Photo Credit: AP