Anna Nicole's sister says claims of a murder plot "wouldn't shock or surprise her"

 Paul Boyd, who spoke with Smith's sister, is available for interviews  

To be broadcast Wednesday, October 7, 2009

New York, NY - October 7, 2009 - Just released FBI documents reveal the late Anna Nicole Smith was probed in 2000 and 2001 in a murder-for-hire scheme.  Her alleged target was Pierce Marshall, the son of Smith's much older oil tycoon husband, Howard Marshall.

At the time, Smith was embroiled in a legal battle with Pierce Marshall over his dead father's $400 million dollar estate.

Smith was interrogated by agents about the murder plot on July 3, 2000, according to just released documents.  The documents stated, "Smith began crying and denied making such plans."  They also stated a revolver and a 3 ½ inch stainless steel knife were confiscated from Smith's home.  Also taken was one bizarre item - a black and orange hat, described as a "Dr. Suess hat."  Everything was returned to Smith seven months later.

Smith's sister, Donna Hogan tells INSIDE EDITION's Paul Boyd she loved her sister, but the claims of a murder plot "wouldn't shock or surprise" her.

Other sources close to the late star say the whole story of a murder plot came from Smith's ex-boyfriend, Mark Hatten. 

Hatten spoke to INSIDE EDITION when he was in prison serving time for making criminal threats against Smith.

Hatten: "She wanted me to take care of it for her.  If I wasn't going to do it personally, {she wanted me} to get a contract to kill Pierce Marshall."

Inside Edition: "So Anna Nicole asked you to kill the son of her ex husband?"

Hatten: "Absolutely, numerous times...She'd get jacked up on pain pills and this would come out, and she'd start saying, ‘Mark, you gotta kill him.  I'm Anna Nicole, I can't do it.  You gotta take care of this for me.  I'll do anything for you.  We'll be set.'"

A letter in Smith's FBI file states the agency "determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish that there was a murder-for-hire plot by Ms. Smith to kill Pierce Marshall."  That statement officially closed the Anna Nicole Smith murder investigation.

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