As I Lay Dying Frontman Tim Lambesis Arrested In Murder-For-Hire Plot

As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis was arrested on Tuesday in an alleged murder-for-hire plot. The arrest was a shock for many of the metal band’s fans.

Lambesis was taken into custody in Oceanside, California on charges that he asked an undercover detective for help having his estranged wife killed.

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Jan Caldwell, who announced the arrest, added that police previously learned the As I Lay Dying frontman was looking for someone to carry out the murder. Caldwell added, “The information came to us late last week. We acted quickly on it. I believe that we averted a great tragedy.”

Caldwell explained that the ongoing investigation prevented her from releasing any details on why Tim Lambesis may have wanted his wife killed or how police first learned of the alleged murder-for-hire plot.

The metal band frontman’s wife, Meggan, filed for divorce from Lambesis in San Diego Superior Court in September 2012. There is no information on why she requested the dissolution of her marriage to Tim.

Lambesis is a founding member of As I Lay Dying, which was formed in San Diego. In recent days, the group was touring through Asia. Lambesis wrote on Twitter on Monday, “Goodbye China. I’ll be home in about 15 hours.” The band’s 2007 album “An Ocean Between Us” debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 list.

The band released its sixth album, “Awakened,” last year. While As I Lay Dying is often described in the media as a Christian group, Tim Lambesis stated in an interview earlier this year that the group’s members wanted “to be judged on the music” instead of their “personal beliefs.”

The lead singer is expected to appear in court for an arraignment on Wednesday or Thursday. It is not clear if Tim Lambesis has an attorney yet.

[Image via Lia Koltyrina / Shutterstock.com]