By CHRISTINE RENDÓN and EVE BUCKLAND, US SHOWBUSINESS DEPUTY EDITOR
Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin is still reeling from the betrayal of his wife's efforts to have him killed, his close friend and co-star Zak Bagans has revealed exclusively to the Daily Mail.
Paranormal expert Bagans, 48, has been friends with Goodwin, 49, since 2004 and is now filming season 31 of Ghost Adventures with him in Idaho.
Goodwin's estranged wife Victoria, 32, was sentenced five months ago for plotting his murder, but the heaviness of the brutal ordeal is still weighing on him.
'We're filming in Idaho right now. Aaron is still having a bit of a tough time. I just let him know he's loved. We've been friends for a long time and I can notice it,' Bagans told The Daily Mail.
'I try not to let this pull at him too much when I notice it. I tell him he's loved and he's amazing and I hug him,' he added.
Court documents revealed that Victoria contacted Florida inmate Grant Amato - who is serving a life sentence for murdering his parents and brother - and offered him $11,500 to carry out the hit, with a $2,500 down payment already made.
But, her devious plan unraveled when prison authorities seized Amato's phone and discovered disturbing communications between him and Victoria.
Investigators said she instructed him to make Goodwin's death look like an accident and provided detailed information about his travel plans and routines.
Victoria and Amato were also allegedly having an affair, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
On Wednesday, Goodwin marked a chilling moment - the one-year anniversary a hitman was set to cut his life short.
'From what the detectives told me, I can't believe I was supposed to die again a year ago today while filming the poltergeist house from the 2nd hit man attempt on my life that Victoria hired (emotional emoji) WTF (broken heart emoji) not having any idea thinking we where so in love. There's so much more I'm learning,' he captioned a photo of the cover of the book Harleen.
Since the murder plot was unveiled, Goodwin has filed for divorce from Victoria.
Victoria pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in April.
She was sentenced two months later to a minimum of three to seven and a half years behind bars in Nevada after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.
At her sentencing, Victoria apologized to Goodwin, saying she would 'always hold love for him' and promised he would 'never be in danger of her again.'
Aaron wept as he described the betrayal of discovering that the 'love of his life' had not only cheated on him but had tried to have him killed.
Aaron was filming his reality show when police called him informing him they had arrested his wife for plotting his murder.
Paranormal expert Bagans, 48, has been friends with Goodwin, 49, since 2004 and is now filming season 31 of Ghost Adventures with him in Idaho; pictured with the Annabelle doll
She was sentenced two months later to a minimum of three to seven and a half years behind bars in Nevada after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors
At her sentencing, Victoria apologized to Goodwin, saying she would 'always hold love for him' and promised he would 'never be in danger of her again'
He uploaded this chilling photo of the cover of Harleen as he marked the one-year anniversary of the day a hitman was set to take him out
On Wednesday, Goodwin marked a chilling moment - the one-year anniversary a hitman was set to cut his life short
Divorce documents obtained by Court TV reveal the duo married in 2020
Goodwin was filming his reality show when police called him informing him they had arrested his wife for plotting his murder.
Goodwin and his co-host Jay Wasley were setting up UV lights and polaroid cameras to take photos in an abandoned medical facility in Southern California when the presenter said he was feeling something peculiar.
'I feel like something's happening,' Goodwin said ominously.
But rather than a supernatural encounter normally reserved for an episode of his show, he was hit with the news that officers were at his home.
'Bro, police are at my house,' said Goodwin to Wasley, his tone became panicked.
Goodwin left the premises to take the call outside, leaving Wasley behind.
'That's fine, but I’m not staying in here by myself,' Wasley responded, trailing behind.
Ghost Adventures cut off the footage there, shielding viewers from the remainder of the gritty conversation where Goodwin was told that his wife Victoria had been arrested and charged for conspiracy to commit murder, according to TMZ.
Aaron was filming his reality show when police called him informing him they had arrested his wife for plotting his murder; pictured 2022
Goodwin and his then-wife Victoria sharing a tender moment
Court documents revealed that Victoria contacted Florida inmate Grant Amato - who is serving a life sentence for murdering his parents and brother - and offered him $11,500 to carry out the hit, with a $2,500 down payment already made
The murder plot was set to unfold in October 2024 while Goodwin was filming Ghost Adventures in California. The show follows Goodwin and three other men as they explore reportedly haunted locations and investigate paranormal activity. It is now airing it's 30th season.
Prosecutors cited chilling messages recovered from Amato's phone. One message from Amato to a hitman read: 'He's asleep right now in the hotel room... I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update. Was it done?'
In another message, Victoria wrote to Amato: 'Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce.'
When questioned by authorities, Victoria claimed she first learned about Amato through a true crime documentary and began corresponding with him.
She described their relationship as 'pen pals' and admitted that she and Aaron had been experiencing marital problems, which led her to 'connect' with Amato.
According to divorce documents obtained by Court TV, Goodwin and Victoria married in May 2020.
Following her arrest, Goodwin filed for divorce on March 12, stating: 'The views, tastes, likes, and dislikes of Husband and Wife have become incompatible to the extent that it has become impossible for them to live together as husband and wife in marital harmony. There is no possibility of reconciliation between Husband and Wife.'