Woman Accused Of Plotting Daughter's Kidnapping

WAREHAM, Mass. -- A Revere, Mass., woman accused of plotting to have her own daughter kidnapped and the girl's father killed appeared in Taunton District Court Monday.

Karen DeCosta, 52, is charged with trying to abduct her daughter and flee the state.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that the woman was held in jail all weekend since her arrest Friday. During her court arraignment, as she was led in handcuffs Monday, she claimed ignorance of any plot when reporters asked her about it. "What plan?" she said.

Police said DeCosta uses several aliases and sometimes wears a blond wig. Detectives said when they arrested DeCosta she had made one payment for the kidnapping and was prepared to make a second. They said they found a wig and children's clothing in her car.

"She had some fake IDs, some disguises, she pretty much had this whole thing ready to go where she'd be a step ahead of the police," said an undercover detective.

DeCosta was charged with hiring an undercover police officer to kidnap her 8-year-old daughter who lives in Raynham, Mass., with her former boyfriend, who has sole custody of the girl. She allegedly paid an undisclosed amount of money to the officer. The kidnapping was allegedly supposed to take place at Canobie Lake Park.

"She gave me some money up front and the deal was that she was gonna work out all the details and then we'd meet again tomorrow when I had the child and she'd give me the rest of the money," the undercover officer said.

When they met a package store in Lakeville, Mass., DeCosta allegedly told the undercover officer she wanted the child's father killed as well.

"Another person was paid a substantial sum of money, almost $1,000, to kill the husband, and didn't do it," Taunton Deputy Police Chief Louis Pacheco said.

DeCosta took care of a $300 charge to the court in Taunton Monday, and was then taken to Wareham Court to face the felony kidnapping charges.