O.C. woman charged in murder-for-hire plot against husband

A woman was charged Tuesday with having a grocery store butcher attack her husband with a machete in an ambush that left her spouse with three amputated fingers and a nearly severed nose.

Mary Sharpski, 46, of Fountain Valley and a lover devised the murder-for-hire plot to have her husband killed by a grocery store butcher, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Frank Sharpski, 47, had just left the Fountain Valley apartment he shared with his wife and three children on March 3 when he was ambushed in an attack that awoke neighbors, said Fountain Valley Police Sgt. Robert Sweaza.

Police said they responded at 5:51 a.m. and found a semiconscious man lying in an alley, bleeding profusely. His thumb, index finger and middle finger of his left hand were cut off, his nose was barely attached and his skull was fractured, officers said.

Police said they later learned that Mary Sharpski was having a romantic relationship with Michael Shores II, 39, who had been living with the Sharpskis in their two-bedroom apartment after he lost his job. Police said they also determined through physical evidence at the scene that a butcher, Antonio Cinco Ortega, 23, of Santa Ana, was involved.

Police said they searched the homes of Ortega and Shores and seized several hunting knives, swords and daggers. Police said the two were avid knife collectors.

Mary Sharpski was charged with attempted murder and mayhem. Ortega and Shores were charged Monday with the same counts. All three are being held at Orange County Jail on $1-million bail each.

The Sharpskis’ children, ages 16, 11 and 10, are in protective custody. Frank Sharpski is still recovering in the hospital.

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