Two men arrested in alleged plot to murder, mutilate Justin Bieber

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Two men were arrested in the U.S. in November in an alleged murder-for-hire plot involving Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber, a New Mexico TV station reports.

According to a report from Albuquerque-based KRQE-TV, Mark Staake, 41, and his nephew Tanner Ruane, 23, were allegedly hired to mutilate and murder the singer. But the plot was botched by the man who allegedly hired them.

“Through follow-up investigation it was discovered that Justin Bieber may have also been a target of the murder plot,” New Mexico State Police Lt. Robert McDonald said in a statement.

The plot allegedly began in a state prison near Las Cruces, N.M., where Staake met Dana Martin, a convicted killer and rapist, serving two life sentences for the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in Vermont in 2000, according to the TV station.

Martin allegedly hired Staake, who was also serving time, to execute four murders, including the murder of Bieber and his bodyguard, after Staake was released.

Staake then allegedly recruited his nephew.

The pair allegedly planned to murder and castrate Bieber around the time of his Nov. 28 Madison Square Garden concert.

According to KRQE-TV, Martin turned Staake and Ruane in to police. Staake was arrested in Vermont and Ruane was arrested in New York City, according to the TV station.

Martin is reportedly obsessed with Bieber, and has a tattoo of the singer on his leg, the TV station reports.

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