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Jeffery Boden Thompson (left) was allegedly hired by Albert Jackson Sterling (right) to kill his pregnant wife.

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Exclusive: Murder-for-hire suspect's mom talks

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ALAMOGORDO, N.M – The wife of an Allen man accused of hiring someone to kill her is still in love with him, the man's mother said Thursday.

Albert Jackson Sterling II has spoken with his wife from jail in New Mexico, his mother, Audrey Sterling said. Roxane Sterling also asked her husband's mother to pass a message along during a jail visit.

"When you go, tell him I love him," Audrey Sterling said Roxane Sterling told her.

Roxane Sterling, who is in Louisiana with family, could not be reached Thursday at her parents' brown brick home, where her car was parked in the driveway.

Her mother, Natalie Johnson, said only, "We're just glad to have her. We're blessed to have her."

Mr. Sterling, 38, was arrested Nov. 22 in New Mexico on two counts of criminal solicitation of capital murder – one for his wife, who is eight months pregnant, and another for the unborn child. Allen police say he arranged to have his wife killed at their Allen home while he and the couple's 3-year-old son were away visiting family in New Mexico.

The man hired to kill her warned her instead, police said. Roxane Sterling, 37, was not hurt.

Mr. Sterling should soon return to Texas following an extradition hearing Thursday. Texas officials have 10 business days to bring him back to the state.

Mr. Sterling appeared in court in an orange jumpsuit, wearing handcuffs and leg shackles. His mother, her next-door neighbor, Jewel Rhodes, and Mr. Sterling's aunt attended the hearing.

As he shuffled out of the courtroom, Mr. Sterling winked at the three women and said softly, "I love you."

Mr. Sterling had been sleeping in his childhood home next to his young son, Ryan, when police came to his parent's house to arrest him Nov. 22. The boy slept through the arrest.

Roxane Sterling's sister flew in from Louisiana and reunited him with his mother, who is expecting a second son.

Audrey Sterling said she's confident her son did not craft a plan to kill his wife.

"Why would he try to kill somebody? You just let them go. You go your way. I go mine," she said. "Besides, where would he get that kind of money?"

Her husband, Albert Sterling Sr., said their son is an honest man.

"He said he didn't [hire a man to kill his wife]. So I have to believe him. He don't lie."

Mr. Sterling is accused of offering an acquaintance, Jeffrey B. Thompson, $2,500 to kill his wife in their home and dump her body. Mr. Sterling's attorney has said he is innocent of all charges.

Police said they do not plan to charge Mr. Thompson.

"He actually didn't commit an offense," said Capt. Robert Flores of the Allen Police Department.

Capt. Flores said Mr. Sterling allowed Mr. Thompson into his house, so it is not a burglary, and he did not harm Ms. Sterling.

"The fact is that he's actually a witness, he's not a suspect," Capt. Flores said.

Mr. Sterling works in the telecommunications field but is best known by hundreds of Dallas residents as a popular fitness instructor at 24 Hour Fitness on Greenville Avenue in Dallas. He is no longer employed at the company, a spokeswoman has said.

The Sterlings have lived in their $405,000 Allen home for about a year. Neighbors there know Mr. Sterling as a loving father, but several people who knew him through the gym said they had no idea he was married or had a child.

Several gym members said he had been dating another instructor at the gym for months who also did not know he was married.

Capt. Flores said he could not confirm Mr. Sterling had a girlfriend, or comment about any possible motive.

Audrey Sterling and Mr. Sterling's attorney say he does not have a girlfriend.

"As tight as Albert is with his money, he couldn't afford no girlfriend," his mother said.

When asked if her son and his wife had a good marriage, she said, "As far as I know, they had a good marriage. Everyone has their ups and downs." She said she loves his wife.

Family and neighbors in New Mexico described Mr. Sterling as an honest, respectful youngster who had the same qualities as an adult.

Lily Olivarez, who has lived down the street from Mr. Sterlings' parents since 1971, said she has seen Mr. Sterling instilling those same manners and discipline in his son.

"Albert was never disrespectful to his elders. And he has his little boy being real well-mannered," she said.

Another neighbor, Ms. Rhodes, attended the hearing with Audrey Sterling.

"That child ain't never been in no trouble," Ms. Rhodes said. "Albert is the cleanest cut young man I've ever met. He doesn't drink. He doesn't smoke," she said. "I'm hurt to the core. He's like my grandson."

At Alamogordo High School, Mr. Sterling played football, basketball and ran track in the mid-1980s. He received a track scholarship to attend Idaho Junior College in 1987. He spent two years there before transferring to Texas Tech, where he studied computers and engineering, Mrs. Sterling said.

Audrey Sterling said her son met Roxane in the Dallas area, where he had moved after finishing at Texas Tech. The couple has been married for six years. When she met her daughter-in-law, she said she liked her.

Ms. Rhodes stressed that no one should rush to judgment. She suggests people wait for the entire case to play out before forming an opinion.

"There is always two sides to every story and you haven't heard Albert's side yet."

Staff writer Tiara M. Ellis reported from New Mexico, staff writer Kim Breen reported from Dallas and staff writer Lauren D'Avolio reported from Louisiana.

Email tellis@dallasnews.com