Keith Barton Cathey, Oklahoma man tries to hire hitman to kill homebuyers who sued him over bat infested house he sold them

A Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, man is accused of attempting to hire a hitman to shoot a couple who sued him and won a $1 million judgment after he sold them a bat-infested house.

Keith Barton Cathey was charged with two counts of soliciting first-degree murder after his arrest last week, according to court records. On September 4, police arrested Barton, who was later released on a $200,000 bond and told not to contact the accused scheme targets.

Sheryl and Mike Fritts bought what they considered to be their 'dream' home from Cathey in 2015. Upon moving in, the husband and wife discovered that the house was infected with bats dwelling within the walls.

Sheryl and Mike Fritts, duped Oklahoma home buyers

The home's insulation and drywall were found to be drenched in bat guano, necessitating the replacement of the outside brickwork and stripping the whole second story interior to the studs, according to Sheryl. According to the couple, an inspection prior to the purchase revealed no issues, and Cathey never mentioned them.

A probable cause affidavit obtained by KOTV states that an informant informed police that Cathey had asked him if he knew someone who could execute the Fritts.

‘These people sued me 4 years after I sold my f***ing house, they got bats in their house,’ Cathay allegedly said. ‘… If you know a hitman, I’d give $100,000 to have those people killed. I’m not even joking.’

Cathey told the unidentified individual that he ‘can’t find a hitman to save my life… I’ve even asked some homeless people,’ following up with a plea for the contact to do the deed himself. ‘I’ll even take you and drop you off,’ Cathay said, according to the affidavit.

The Fritts won a $526,000 jury verdict in the lawsuit against Cathey over the infested house he sold them. With costs and fees, the settlement exceeded $1 million.

Reached by phone on Monday, Cathey told The Independent, ‘It was a misunderstanding. I don’t want to talk about that.’

Cathay is due to be arraigned in court on September 11 at 9 a.m.