4 arraigned in plot to kidnap, rape, kill random child in Michigan

COLDWATER, Mich. (WJBK) - Four southern Michigan people charged with plotting to kidnap, rape and kill a child are each being held on $5 million bonds after being arraigned Tuesday.

The Battle Creek Enquirer reports 32-year-old Matthew Poole of Battle Creek and his girlfriend, 32-year-old Talia Furman of Springfield, were read charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to commit criminal sexual conduct Tuesday in Branch County District Court.

Two other suspects, 37-year-old David Bailey of Coldwater and 19-year-old Jayme LaPointe of Athens, were arraigned Sunday and Monday on the same charges.

Investigators with the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit allegedly found texts on their phones and computers about the conspiracy while they were investigating sexual assault and manufacture of child pornography. 

According to the Enquirer, Detective Sgt. Gerald Yott said the group considered taking a child from a county fair or parking lot of a Walmart or Meijer store. He said they considered cameras at the stores and discussed best methods of destroying evidence and disposing of the body.

Despite the conversations, Yott says police have no evidence the group actually carried out such a plot.

The four suspects were already charged with sexual assault and child abuse after police said they assaulted some of their own children while making child porn. 

"They committed acts on their own children and were making sexually abusive material," Yott said last week. "They were all sharing and exploiting their own children and other children."

All are awaiting proceedings in those cases.

Poole and Furman were both charged in Calhoun County while Bailey and LaPointe were charged in Branch County. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.