Bulldozer At Center Of Murder For Hire Plot

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ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. - A bulldozer for murder? It may sound unusual, but police say a man offered the heavy machinery in exchange for killing his wife.

The man's wife went into hiding while police investigate.

Police in Cheatham County said the broken down bulldozer is at the heart of a broken down murder plot. Melvin Smalley, age 68, is charged with trying to pay someone to murder his wife Stephanie.

The Smalleys are in the process of getting a divorce.

"That may be what's fueling this," said Floyd Duncan, a detective with the Cheatham County Sheriff's Office.

Duncan said Smalley was so upset about losing money in the divorce he asked 58-year-old Talmedge McMillian to take the bulldozer in exchange for killing his wife.

The Smalleys have been living apart, but they own a home and farm in Dickson County near Charlotte. Police said the couple signed a prenuptial agreement before they married - something Stephanie challenged in the divorce.

"Apparently, the loss of those assets, feeling threatened, maybe this individual's goal if he eliminates the wife eliminates the civil challenge to his assets," said Duncan.

Police said Stephanie was afraid and hiding from her husband.

"Naturally, she seeks an order of protection. I understand from authorities in Montgomery County they are seeking him for violation of that as well already," said Floyd.

Smalley has apparently not said much, but after he was arrested he tried to blame what he was doing on a beer.

"That's what he told the officers after he denied the bulldozer was involved in this way. ‘Well, yeah, but I may have said that over a beer.' Well, it's hard to think you'd give away a bulldozer over a beer wouldn't it," said Duncan.

McMillian told police he and Smalley worked together and were going to start a business. He said at first he didn't think Smalley was serious about killing his wife. That changed, because Smalley seemed to go crazy when he realized his wife wasn't dead.

He demanded McMillen return the bulldozer. At that point he called police. Neither men would talk on camera.

Smalley was released from the Cheatham County jail Tuesday afternoon, but officials said he would not get far. Montgomery County deputies planned to pick him up for violating an order of protection filed by his wife.