Cops Thwart Convicted Killer's Plan to Strangle, Castrate and Kill Justin Bieber

Investigators have thwarted a convicted murderer's plan to strangle, castrate and murder Justin Bieber, Albuquerque's KRQE reports.

Dana Martin, who is currently serving two life sentences in state prison for raping and killing a 15-year-old girl in Vermont in 2000, reportedly recruited a fellow inmate, Mark Staake, to help him complete a series of killings that included the young pop heartthrob.

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Staake and his nephew Tanner Ruane were set to attack Bieber at his sold-out Madison Square Garden concert last month in New York City, police say. They planned to strangle Bieber and his bodyguard with paisley ties — Martins's calling card — and then castrate the bodies.

Fortunately, Staake was arrested in Vermont on outstanding warrants before the plan could be executed. Martin, who according to reports has a tattoo of Bieber on his leg, informed authorities of his whole plan and cops later recorded phone calls between Martin and Ruane in which the men discussed the murders.

Ruane was soon apprehended by New York police. At the time of his arrest, Ruane had murder tools and pruning shears on him, according to authorities.

"We take every precaution to protect and insure the safety of Justin and his fans," Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, told Us Weekly.