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# After being jailed for allegedly soliciting murder, Richmond real estate agent dies on Sunday
- URL: https://www.richmonder.org/after-being-jailed-for-allegedly-soliciting-murder-richmond-real-estate-agent-dies-on-sunday/
- Published: 2026-03-09T13:40:11.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-11T01:06:06.000Z
- Description: Henrico Police said they were called to the county’s jail "for a reported medical emergency involving Mr. Barrett who appeared to have harmed himself."
- Author: Michael Phillips
- Tags: Local News, #hide

*An updated version of this story is available here:*

[Richmond real estate agent who died in custody tried to hire someone to kill his wife, court records sayIn early February, Richmond police pulled over a wanted criminal with an extensive history of breaking the law.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-1-354.png)The RichmonderMichael Phillips![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/thumbnail/richmonder-card-no-logo-2.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-real-estate-agent-who-died-in-jail-tried-to-hire-someone-to-kill-his-wife-court-records-say/)

**Original story:**

Richmond resident Michael Barrett was jailed on Friday after a joint investigation by Henrico Police, Richmond Police and the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force.

Barrett, 45, was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony (i.e. murder) and solicitation of a crime (i.e. murder), according to court records.

Henrico Police said that on Sunday afternoon, they were called to the county’s Jail West "for a reported medical emergency involving Mr. Barrett who appeared to have harmed himself."

"He was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died," Henrico Police said in a statement. “Detectives within Henrico Police’s Criminal Investigations Section are working with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine a cause and manner of death.”

Barrett, a real estate agent, was arrested on Friday. A neighbor told The Richmonder they saw FBI agents searching Barrett’s home, which overlooks Byrd Park.

“The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force is investigating this case jointly with Henrico County and Richmond Police Department,” an FBI spokesperson wrote in an email. “Henrico County is the lead on this investigation, so we will defer to them for any comments on the case.”

Soliciting murder is a felony charge in Virginia and [requires a prison sentence](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter3/section18.2-29/) of at least 5 years, with no more than 40 years. It was not immediately known who the intended target was.

*This has been a breaking news update. Visit Richmonder.org or* [*sign up for our email newsletter*](https://www.richmonder.org/sign-up-for-the-richmonders-free-newsletter/) *to receive updates. This article has been updated to reflect the charges as issued by police.*

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