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Bob Bashara Arrested For Allegedly Trying To Have Hit Man Killed

GROSSE POINTE (WWJ) - The attorney for Bob Bashara has confirmed that Bashara, who is a person of interest in the strangulation death of his 56-year-old wife, has been arrested.

Bashara is in the Wayne County Jail for allegedly trying to solicit someone to kill handyman Joseph Gentz, the man charged with killing Bob Bashara's wife, Jane.

Attorney David Griem told WWJ's Rob Sanford he was caught off guard by the arrest of Bashara Monday evening.

"It's not often that I find myself speechless but this is one of those occasions, I was completely surprised," Griem said.

Griem says Bashara didn't know what he was arrested for and was in "complete disbelief" when he was told it was for solicitation of murder.

"I'm not even sure there is an arrest warrant at this time, my belief is they're going to be obtaining a warrant tomorrow and he should be arraigned sometime on Wednesday," Griem said.

Griem said Bashara was shocked and responded "this is a setup" when told about the charges Monday.

Grosse Pointe Park Police would not comment Monday night.  A spokeswoman for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said there would be no comment from the prosecutor's office.

The body of Jane Bashara, a marketing executive and mother of two, was found in the back of her Mercedes-Benz SUV parked in an alley at Pinewood and Annott in Detroit on Jan. 25. Her husband reported her missing the night before. An autopsy showed that she had extensive bruising to her upper body, a crushed windpipe and missing fingernails.

In March, authorities charged Bob Bashara's former handyman Joseph Gentz with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the death of Jane Bashara. Gentz reportedly told Grosse Pointe Park investigators back in January that he was hired to kill Jane Bashara and paid by her husband.

An email message has been left for Gentz's attorney Susan Reed.

Catch up on this story, here.

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.

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