

A Washington state father’s plot to kill his wife and 4-year-old daughter was reportedly foiled after he sent a text to his former boss instead of a hitman.

Jeff Lytle, 42, was arrested last week and charged with two counts of criminal solicitation for first-degree murder.

The arrest came after Lytle tried to reach out to a hitman named “Shayne” about killing his family in order to cash in on a $1.5 million life insurance policy, news station KIRO reported. The texts include his wife’s work schedule and to make the murder look like a “robbery gone wrong or make it a accident.”

“You remember you said that you would help me kill my wife,” Lytle wrote. “I’m going to take you up on that offer.”

However, Lytle mixed up the contact for his hitman with his former boss. The former employer called police, who arrested Lytle at his home on Wednesday in Monroe, Washington.

According to police, Lytle claimed that he wrote the texts to “vent” and was not planning on having his family killed. He said that he never intended to send anyone the messages, suggesting that his 4-year-old daughter may have sent them.

Lytle remains in custody on $1 million bail.