Student, 19, says gamer ex-boyfriend ‘hired a HITMAN on the dark web to kill her’

A Minnesota teenager is speaking on screen for the first time since police informed her that an unidentified person had hired a hitman to have her killed. 

Alexis Stern, 19, sat down with CBS’ 48 Hours for an episode set to air Saturday, and told the program that she believes her British ex-boyfriend ordered the hit.

In July 2018, investigators contacted Stern to inform her that someone with an  online username of ‘Mastermind365’ had procured the services of Yura – a man who allegedly operates a murder-for-hire site on the dark web.  

After her initial shock faded, Stern says she began to suspect that her former beau, 24-year-old Adrian Fry, was behind the assassination attempt. 

Stern and Fry met over the internet in 2016, and soon began dating. Fry, who is based in the British city of Bath, came to visit Stern three times in her hometown of Big Lake, and was deeply in love. 

‘I was always partial to British accents, so I thought it was kind of a bonus. I wanted to have a boyfriend and it was a perfect opportunity,’ Stern told 48 Hours.  

Adrian Fry (pictured) has vigorously denied the accusation

Alexis Stern (left) spoke with CBS’ 48 Hours for an episode set to air Saturday, and told the program that she believes her British ex-boyfriend, Adrian Fry (right) ordered a hitman to kill her. Fry has denied the accusation 

Stern and Fry met over the internet in 2016, and soon began dating. Fry, who is based in the British city of Bath, came to visit Stern three times in her hometown of Big Lake, and was deeply in love. They are pictured in an old social media snap

Stern and Fry met over the internet in 2016, and soon began dating. Fry, who is based in the British city of Bath, came to visit Stern three times in her hometown of Big Lake, and was deeply in love. They are pictured in an old social media snap

However, Stern told the program that Fry became ‘controlling’ and was angered  when she broke their relationship off.

‘He pretty much said ‘You pretty much deserve everything terrible that happens to you’, she claimed.

 Stern told 48 Hours that there are a number of tell-tale signs that she claims prove it was Fry who paid $5770 in Bitcoin to have her kidnapped and killed. 

The date the hit was ordered came just one day after Stern had informed Fry that she was in a new relationship. 

Additionally, the person behind the ‘Mastermind365’ username used British English phrases that Fry had used in text conversations with Stern. 

Further, both ‘Mastermind365’ and Fry both spelled ‘thank you’ incorrectly. 

The new 48 Hours special seeks to track down Yura - the man who allegedly operates a murder-for-hire site on the dark web that was used in the foiled attempt to kill Stern

The new 48 Hours special seeks to track down Yura – the man who allegedly operates a murder-for-hire site on the dark web that was used in the foiled attempt to kill Stern

Stern says she was left in shock when officers revealed that someone on the dark web had paid to have her assassinated

Stern says she was left in shock when officers revealed that someone on the dark web had paid to have her assassinated

However, Fry vigorously disputes Stern’s claim that he was behind the criminal act. 

He declined to be interviewed for 48 Hours, but spoke with Daily Mail in December.  

‘I can’t believe what I’m hearing and what she’s accusing me of. I’m traumatized and hurt that she would even think that it could be me,’ he stated. 

‘I would never think of killing anyone, I’ve never so much as harmed a fly.’

Fry – who is an avid gamer- continued: ‘I once really loved Alexis and we parted on bad terms because I wanted the relationship to survive. Of course I was heartbroken, that’s just normal when couples break up. But that doesn’t mean I wanted her killed. It’s absolutely unjust and preposterous to think that. ‘

 ‘I don’t know anything about the dark web and I wouldn’t know how to access it. The only IT training I’ve received is for accounts systems.’

Further protesting her innocence, he defiantly declared: ‘None of the things that Alexis has pointed out is concrete evidence against me. It’s just flimsy nonsense. She’s understandably worried that somebody wants her killed and is looking for a scapegoat, who just happens to be me.’ 

Stern first told her story to Harper’s magazine last year, with the article claiming that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security were investigating the incident.   

Stern (above) was contacted by police in Minnesota in July 2018 to say that her life was in danger

Fry (above) has since been named as the man who she believes paid to have her killed

Ms Stern (left) was contacted by police in Minnesota in July 2018 to say that her life was in danger and that there had been an order on the internet by someone to have her assassinated 

Fry denies that he paid in Bitcoin currency from his home in Bath, Somerset, to a murky alleged hitman who promises to kill, maim or kidnap targets in exchange for cash

Fry denies that he paid in Bitcoin currency from his home in Bath, Somerset, to a murky alleged hitman who promises to kill, maim or kidnap targets in exchange for cash

The Harper’s article gave details about the attempted hit, claiming that ‘Mastermind365’ initially asked for Stern to be kidnapped. A week later, the user sent another message requesting she be murdered instead. A payment was then made for more than $5770 in bitcoin and a photo of Stern was also sent to the site, which exists only on the dark web. 

After Stern was alerted by police in her hometown last July, the case was then taken over by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, who failed to uncover the identity of ‘Mastermind365’. 

Fry told Daily Mail that he was heard about his alleged involvement in the plot for the first time when a journalist from Harper’s had contacted him for an interview via social media.  

‘I got a message on Twitter from somebody asking to speak with me about the dark web, Alexis and an attempt to murder her. I thought it was a bad joke and didn’t understand what it was all about so just said I wasn’t interested in speaking.

‘I don’t even have any significant savings and there’s no way I could afford to pay $5770 to have somebody killed. This whole thing is just ridiculous.’   

'I don't even have any significant savings and there's no way I could afford to pay $5770 to have somebody killed. This whole thing is just ridiculous': Fry has denied Stern's allegations

‘I don’t even have any significant savings and there’s no way I could afford to pay $5770 to have somebody killed. This whole thing is just ridiculous’: Fry has denied Stern’s allegations

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk