Father in Facebook Murder-for-Hire Sentenced Today

A Beachwood man who hired a hitman to kill his ex-son-in-law will be sentenced in court today.

Al Zomboy, 76, of Beachwood, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder Jan. 24, days after his daughter was convicted by a jury of the same crime.

He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

He told a judge that his daughter Christine Metter, 41, also of Beachwood, was not involved, the News-Herald reported.

She testified that she arranged an initial meeting between Zombory and high school friend Patrick Sabo, but that she did not know her father would offer Sabo $50,000 to kill her ex-husband.

Metter was the sole beneficiary of her ex-husband's $1.5 million life insurance payout, which prosecutors alleged was on motive for the plan. Her ex-husband also testified that he was working to be granted custody of the couple's four children.

The conspiracy started with a Facebook chat, said witness Patrick Sabo, who called police after he said Zombory offered him $50,000 to kill Metter's ex-husband.

In the chat, which was obtained by prosecutors from Facebook, Metter complained about her ex, and Sabo said, "Why don't you save your money and hire a hit man LMAO." He said he was joking, but that Metter and her father took it seriously.

Defense attorney Michael Lear's attempt to tear down Sabo's credibility during the trial, arguing that he is motivated by money and fame, did not lead to an acquittal.

Zombory's sentencing is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. today in Lake County Common Pleas Court. Watch Beachwood Patch for complete coverage, and follow us on Twitter for live updates during the hearing.

Click here for all of Beachwood Patch's coverage of this case.