National Guard Soldier Charged After Plotting Murder of Man Who Killed His Mom in Car Crash: Police

The soldier was taken into custody on a charge of solicitation to commit first-degree murder, Wake Forest, N.C., town officials said in a release

A National Guard soldier in North Carolina was arrested and charged after allegedly plotting to kill a man who was involved in a fatal car crash with his mother, according to state authorities.

Officials in Wake Forest, N.C., announced in a press release on Saturday that Rhett Michael Barlow was taken into custody on a charge of solicitation to commit first-degree murder after police say he attempted to hire a man to kill Donald Caulder, Jr.

Caulder had been involved in a car crash with Barlow’s mother, Michelle Barlow, in 2016 that left her dead, according to the release. At the time, he was driving a dump truck that rear-ended the woman’s minivan, according to local news outlets WRAL and WTVD.

Per reports, authorities believed driver fatigue or distraction may have contributed to the crash. There wasn't any evidence that Caulder tried to break or swerve his car to avoid crashing into the minivan, according to WRAL.

The woman eventually died due to her injuries, and Caulder was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, WTVD reported. Per the outlet, he pleaded guilty and received a suspended sentence and 12 months probation.

Six years after the incident, on Nov. 28, Barlow attempted to hire a hitman to murder Caulder, the Wake Forest Police Department claims, per WTVD.

Additionally, during his court appearance on Monday, prosecutors alleged that Barlow initiated a transfer request with the Army to move closer to Caulder. He also purchased an AR-15 rifle on the same day he attempted to hire the hitman, according to prosecutors.

Barlow was arrested at Fort Liberty, which is a military installation located approximately 72 miles south of Raleigh and used for National Guard training, according to WTVD.

Wake Forest authorities said Barlow was transported to the Wake County Detention Center after his arrest where he was held under a $1 million secured bond. Police told WRAL that the man who Barlow attempted to hire to carry out the hit will not face charges because he reported it to the police.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The Wake Forest Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the incident, but noted in the town’s release that the incident is still being investigated.

The North Carolina National Guard confirmed to WRAL that Barlow had joined its ranks in 2019, and was a member of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, which is based out of Charlotte, N.C.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.