Leigh Ann Bauman is a well-known real estate agent in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, who is accused of plotting to murder her former mother-in-law. She is also a competitive power boater, magazine cover model and art dealer.
In one bizarre detail, Bauman is accused of sending her daughter a text that read, “your grandmother will die.”
According to local news website Lake Expo, she is a “well-known Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent.” Her personal and professional Facebook pages are filled with glamour shots and promises to find people their dream homes.
She’s now facing a criminal charge of conspiracy to commit murder, which is a class C felony. She once wrote on Facebook that Lake of the Ozarks was “the land of pretty girls & men with checkerboard shirts & facial hair.”
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Bauman Believed Her Former Mother-in-Law Was Trying to Interfere in Her Relationship With Her Daughter, Prosecutors Say
FacebookLeigh Ann Bauman.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Bauman on March 4, 2021, at 2:15 p.m., according to Lake Expo.
The criminal complaint, obtained by Heavy.com from prosecutors, alleges:
The Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Camden, State of Missouri, charges that the defendant, in violation of Section 562.014, RSMo., committed the class C felony of conspiracy, punishable upon conviction under Sections 562.014, 558.002 and 558.011, RSMo, in that on or between March 1, 2021, and March 5, 2021, in the County of Camden, State of Missouri, the defendant, with the purpose of promoting or facilitating the offense of murder in the first degree, a class A felony, agreed with “witness” that they would hire someone to murder SRB, and that in furtherance of the conspiracy they discussed and agreed upon a price, agreed upon a location of the murder, how it was to look like an accident, and agreed on a time and place to meet with the hitmen, and pay them, and defendant provided an address of SRB to “witness”, to give to the hitmen.
According to KY3, the plot Bauman is accused of hatching involved a plan to murder her former mother-in-law. Bauman is 43 years old and lives in Lake Ozark.
The motive? According to KY3, prosecutors allege that Bauman believed the target was trying to harm her relationship with her daughter. Photos and captions on Bauman’s Facebook page show that she has at least two daughters.
FacebookLeigh Ann Bauman
One picture shows Bauman at a restaurant with one of her daughters last fall, with the caption, “Dinner w/ My Sun, My Shine, My Babe.”
2. Bauman Told a Witness on Tape She Wanted It to ‘Look Like an Accident’ & Knew as a Christian That the Plot Was Wrong, Prosecutors Allege
FacebookLeigh Ann Bauman.
The criminal charges say that a witness recorded Bauman entering a deal to pay $1,500 to people from St. Louis to kill her ex mother-in-law and make it “look like an accident.”
A press release from prosecutors alleges:
According to court records filed today, troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control were contacted by the attorney of a witness who was solicited to hire individuals to kill Bauman’s ex mother-in-law.
The witness recorded Bauman’s request and agreement to pay $1,500 for individuals from St. Louis to make the ex-mother-in-law’s death ‘look like an accident.’ In the recording, Bauman was asked multiple times if she was sure she wanted to hire these people, and she confirmed. Bauman stated specially that she knew as a Christian it was wrong but that she could ask for forgiveness. Bauman sent a text message to Bauman’s daughter reading ‘your grandmother will die.’
Because of the threat, Bauman explained to the witness that she wanted the ex- mother-in-law killed in Hermann. Bauman believed the ex-mother-in-law was interfering with Bauman’s relationship with her children. Prosecutors requested a no bond warrant on Bauman due to her ties to multiple states, finances, danger to the victim, and statement she would be getting out very shortly.
FacebookLeigh Ann Bauman.
Lake Expo further reported that Baumann is allegedly on tape saying “she knew as a Christian it was wrong but she could ask for forgiveness.”
3. Bauman Has Political Connections & Promised to Make ‘Your Home Dreams REAL’ in Lake of the Ozarks
FacebookLeigh Ann Bauman.
In 2019, Bauman wrote on Facebook, “L.A. is back in Real Estate with 15 years experience! Looking forward to making your home dreams REAL with Reece & Nichols Lake of the Ozarks!”
On Facebook, she also referred to herself as “Art Dealer, CEO, HBIC at The Lake Ozark Gallery LLC. Commercial & Residential RealtorR at Universal Realty Group at realtor.com Pro. Lives in Lake Ozark, Missouri.”
KY3 reports that prosecutors asked that Bauman be held without bail because of “her finances and danger to the victim.” Court records reviewed by Heavy confirm that Bauman was denied bail.
The plot unraveled when an attorney for the witness contacted authorities, the television station alleges.
”The local realtor had several political connections and the witness was aware of these political connections,” said Camden County Prosecutor Caleb Cunningham, according to KY3. On one Facebook post, she wrote that she enjoyed accompanying a mayor as “1st Lady of Lake Ozark & visit with our core of dynamic professionals!”
4. Bauman, Who Posted Glamour Shots on Facebook, Divorced in 2018
FacebookLeigh Ann Bauman.
According to Missouri court records reviewed by Heavy, Baumann and her husband were divorced in 2018.
On social media, she posted pictures showing herself with guns, speed boats, motorcycles and on old magazine covers in glamour shots.
“Sweet! I have the JC ❤️ Ball, but want a pearl-handled Smith & Wesson if you see one! I’ll pay ya back! 👊” she wrote in the comment thread of a picture showing her with a weapon. With another picture of a gun, she wrote, “New gun locked & loaded, can’t wait to be a dead-on killshot with this puppy, too!!!! Who wants to shoot this weekend?”
5. Bauman Is a Professional Power Boater
FacebookLee Ann Bauman.
According to her Facebook page, Bauman is a professional power boater with plans to compete this year.
“I am SUPERCHARGED to drive & WIN more in this boat for 2021 Offshore Powerboat races with the throttle legend! 🏁💯⚓️🙌” she wrote on Facebook.
“We are taking meetings with Missouri potential sponsors this week! Whose name will be on the side??!!!”
In January 2020, she wrote, “Another magazine article!…We are gearing up for Lake 2021 Race season!!”