Former Food Network chef Juan-Carlos Cruz has been officially charged with attempted murder and solicitation of murder for allegedly offering two homeless men to kill his wife, Jennifer Campbell. (You can read all the details of the murder plot HERE)
Cruz was arraigned earlier today and entered a plea of not guilty. Bail has been set at $2 million.
But things weren’t always bad between the couple, at least not according to the Acknowledgments in Juan-Carlos Cruz’s book The Juan-Carlos Cruz Calorie Countdown Cookbook: A 5-Week Eating Strategy for Sustainable Weight Loss published in 2006. Here is an excerpt with the first couple paragraphs from the section:
When I began to think of all the people whose help and support made this book possible I began to worry that the Acknowledgments page would be longer than the book itself. So many friends and colleagues have encouraged me that there is no way I can possibly include them all.
First and foremost I thank my beautiful wife for her belief in me and encouragement to pursue my dreams. She encouraged me to create a television show and take it all the way. But she still makes me take the trash out.
TMZ is reporting that the difficulties between Cruz and Phillips may have arisen from her depression stemming from an inability to bear children:
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Juan-Carlos Cruz’s wife was deeply despondent because she could not have children.
We’re told Jennifer Campbell is very religious … an active member at her Catholic church. Our sources are suggesting the misery over her not being able to bear children may have a direct bearing on the case. We’re told she has been “deeply despondent for years.”
This is bound to be more to it than that. Stay tuned.
