Cop’s ex pleads not guilty in murder-for-hire attempt

By Matt Pordum

Friday, July 9, 2004 | 8:21 a.m.

The ex-wife of a Henderson Police sergeant pleaded not guilty Thursday to trying to hire a hitman to kill her former husband.

Florela McCorkle, 38, also known as Florela Virginia Martinez, made her plea before District Judge Jackie Glass. McCorkle faces charges of solicitation to commit murder and attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon on a police officer, Sgt. Richard McCorkle, who is her ex-husband.

McCorkle's attorney, Luis Rojas, would not comment on the case other than to say he will be challenging the grand jury's determination that his client should be tried. Rojas said he would also file a motion for bail reduction.

McCorkle is being held on $1 million bail, $500,000 for each count she faces. She remains in custody in Clark County Detention Center.

Investigators say she hired an undercover detective posing as a hitman. Metro Police arrested McCorkle on June 15 after the detective was paid $1,000 during a second meeting. McCorkle is alleged to have given specific orders that Richard McCorkle be shot while in uniform and then mutilated, according to the arrest report.

According to the arrest report, the undercover detective said McCorkle gave him her ex-husband's police identification and handwritten notes detailing her ex-husband's identity, home address, phone numbers, vehicle descriptions, work schedule and the identity of his girlfriend.

The report alleges McCorkle also paid the undercover detective $1,000 and agreed to pay him $10,000 in cash within 90 days of the slaying.