Podcast Summary: True Crime All The Time

Episode 487: "Rent a Hitman"

Release Date: April 9, 2026
Hosts: Mike Ferguson (A) & Mike Gibson aka Gibby (B)

Episode Overview

In this unique episode, Mike and Gibby dive into the bizarre, darkly comedic world of RentAHitman.com—an internet parody site that unintentionally became a tool for law enforcement to catch people seeking contract killers. The hosts unpack the site’s origins, the mindsets of those fooled by its facade, and several wild, real cases where users tried to hire “hitmen,” sometimes with chillingly serious intent. Theme-wise, the episode balances grave true crime content with amazement, disbelief, and the hosts’ signature humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origins of RentAHitman.com

• Background:

  • Bob Ennis bought RentAHitman.com in October 2005 as a playful domain for $9.20, intending to create a web traffic analysis site, playing on "hits" as website visits (03:29).
  • The business never took off, so Ennis kept the domain, hoping someone would buy it down the line.

• Turning Point:

  • In 2008, Ennis checked the site’s email out of curiosity, finding around 300 serious inquiries for murder-for-hire (06:49).
  • Realizing the gravity, he retooled the site as an obvious parody: fake testimonials, service awards, and ridiculous claims about client privacy—“protected under HIPPA: Hitman Information Privacy and Protection Act of 1964” (09:05).

2. The Bizarre Reality: People Still Fell for It

• Despite tongue-in-cheek disclosures, people continued to request hits—sometimes with chilling seriousness.
• Mike (A):

  "Let's be honest, right? Anybody reading that, you gotta pick up that it's not serious." (09:36)

  • The hosts express repeated disbelief that anyone would truly fall for such an overt parody.

3. Impact on Law Enforcement

• Ennis' Role:
  • Became a de facto partner to authorities, forwarding credible threats and inquiries to law enforcement, likely saving around 150 lives (54:31).
• Emotional Toll:
  • Mike and Gibby highlight the emotional and ethical burden—what happens if an email is missed and someone dies? (50:48, 51:07)

4. Case Studies: The Would-Be Clients (Paraphrased/Quoted Unless Noted)

Case 1: Helen Kaplan (2010)

• Plot: British woman stranded in Canada solicited the murder of three UK family members over an inheritance dispute (10:24).
• Action: Ennis replied, gathered identifying info, and involved police—Helen was extradited to the UK after prison time (14:49).

Case 2: Devon Faber (2018)

• Plot: 20-year-old from Virginia tried to have his ex-girlfriend and her parents killed, then planned to kidnap her child (16:50).
• Outcome: Undercover cops intervened; Faber was intercepted after phone conversations, sentenced to 10 years (22:39).

Case 3: Wendy Wein (2020)

• Plot: Michigan woman filled out a hit order against her ex-husband, submitting detailed personal info (23:12).
• Details: Used a fake name, provided a $200 down payment for the $5,000 “job.”
• Memorable Gibby Quote:

  “The only thing would make it funnier is if they, you know, offer financing for you...” (25:57)

• Outcome: Pleaded guilty, sentenced to 7 to 20 years (26:38).

Case 4: Leif Hayman (2022)

• Plot: New Mexico man with intellectual disabilities repeatedly tried to hire a hit on his girlfriend’s mom (28:12).
• Escalation: Provided photos and explicit threats, e.g., “If you don’t do it, I’ll do it myself...” (30:01)
• Pattern: Mike and Gibby note several suspects had cognitive/developmental issues (28:57).
• Outcome: Sentenced to 10 years federal prison (40:07).

Case 5: Josiah Garcia, “The Applicant Hitman” (2023)

• Plot: 21-year-old Tennessee Air National Guard member applied to be a hitman to support his family—sent resume, headshot, military credentials (41:39, 42:36).
• Quote:

  “‘I’m looking for a job that pays well, related to my military experience, shooting and killing the marked target... what can I say? I enjoy doing what I do. Put me in, coach.’” — reading Garcia’s email (43:16)

• Outcome: Undercover FBI sting—he agreed to kill for money, accepted payment, and even asked if a body photo was needed (47:49). Sentenced to five years’ probation (48:50).

5. Ongoing Operation & Ethical Dilemmas

• Ennis continues to run the site, covering costs with donations. He receives 8-10 inquiries per month, some even requesting assistance for suicide or insurance fraud (52:12).
• Reflects on guilt, ethical issues, agency non-cooperation, and his screening process: "I'll ask two simple questions...if they don't respond, free pass. If they do, game on." (53:59, 54:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What Hitman would have customer service awards? We won the J.D. Power award for Best Hitman!” — Mike (08:00)
• “Do you still require our assistance? We can place you in contact with a field operative...” — Ennis’ email reply, illustrating the bait for law enforcement (13:35)
• “If you were going to hire a hitman, would you go out to such an obvious site?” — Gibby incredulously (05:20)
• “The price or the danger keeps most people who want someone murdered...from doing it.” — Mike (38:23)
• “I want to make the big money quick...this isn’t Uber or DoorDash.” — Gibby on Garcia’s ‘job application’ (41:11)
• “He gives people a 24-hour cooling-off period...If they don’t respond, free pass. If they do, game on.” — Mike, summarizing Ennis’ process (53:58)
• “I think there’s a movie in the making here with Steve Carell playing him.” — Gibby (55:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:30] Main story begins: Introduction of RentAHitman.com
• [06:49] Discovery of hundreds of “real” requests
• [09:04] Website’s satirical, obvious disclaimers
• [10:24] Helen Kaplan case
• [16:50] Devon Faber’s solicitation and arrest
• [23:12] Wendy Wein’s attempt and undercover operation
• [28:12] Leif Hayman’s repeated hit requests and mental health context
• [41:11] Garcia applies to be a hitman—“job applicant” case
• [50:48] Hosts discuss the pressure/guilt of operating the site
• [53:58] Ennis’ 24-hour “cooling off” period and life-saving estimate

Tone & Language

• The tone is a mix of disbelief, humor, and serious concern for potential victims.
• Language fluctuates between casual banter and focused true crime analysis, interspersed with in-character reading of emails and website copy.
• Hosts maintain their signature mix of wry, sometimes dark humor and empathetic reflection.

Summary Conclusion

RentAHitman.com started as a joke, but became a strange and sometimes heroic tool for unmasking dangerous intentions in a digital age. Through incredulous laughter, disturbing real stories, and legal close calls, this episode exposes both the cluelessness and seriousness of would-be criminals. The hosts’ blend of analysis and irreverence creates a memorable episode that’s as much a cautionary tale about the internet’s dark corners as it is a testament to the strange ways real lives have been saved.

For more on this case and other fascinating (and sometimes surreal) true crime stories, listen to "True Crime All The Time."