Man Admits Trying To Arrange Wife's Death

INDIANAPOLIS -- A man jailed on suspicion of trying to hire someone to kill his wife told reporters Thursday he is guilty as charged, saying he wanted to "shut her up" for having belittled him and his family.

Robert L. Quarles (pictured), who was arrested Saturday and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, said he was sorry for the plot and that he was "really glad it didn't get done."

"I just flipped out. I'm very sorry ... that I did this. I really wouldn't have (done) it, but ... I just lost my cool," Quarles, 56, told reporters in the Marion County Jail, where he was being held without opportunity for bail.

The arrest of Quarles, who is accused of trying to hire an undercover police officer to kill his wife this month, also has prompted police to start re-investigating the May 10 death of his daughter, Jessica Quarles, of Indianapolis.

Jessica Quarles, 23, described as mentally disabled, drowned in a bathtub after being placed there by a caregiver, according to police.

Police said they believe Robert Quarles had an affair with the caregiver, and that he and his wife stand to get a $1 million settlement from a health care provider because of his daughter's death.

In light of his arrest in the alleged plot against his wife, he is now a person of interest in the daughter's death, police told 6News' Jack Rinehart.

In his jail conference with reporters Thursday, Quarles denied that he was involved in his daughter's drowning.

As for plotting to kill his wife, the Indianapolis tow truck driver said he did so because he was suffering from mental stress and because he wanted "revenge -- to shut her up."

"I was so tired of her belittling me over a number of years, and my family," Quarles said.

Police began investigating Quarles this month after one of his Indy Towing Service co-workers told authorities that Quarles had talked about having unsuccessfully tried to poison his wife, authorities said.

At the direction of police, the co-worker introduced the undercover officer to Quarles as one of the co-worker's cousins, authorities said. Quarles, thinking the undercover man was a professional killer, tried to hire him to kill his wife, according to police.

Police said Quarles offered the undercover officer $1,500 to kill his wife. Authorities said they believe Quarles hoped to collect $20,000 in life insurance had his spouse died, and that he didn't want to share the potential $1 million settlement in connection with his daughter's death.

Quarles said he developed regret about the plot against his wife in the days since his arrest.

"I've got such a bad guilt about it that I am extremely sorry. And I actually want to, on ... television, thank the gentleman who turned me in," Quarles said, referencing the TV news cameras that were recording him.

He also used the reporters' presence to address his wife.

"Honey, I am so sorry. I would not do this to hurt you in any way at all," he said.

Quarles said he'd like to be released on bond so he can "try to get my life straightened out."

"I'm not going to hurt anybody," he said.

A jury trial in the case is scheduled to start Feb. 4.