Richard Schlesinger (48 Hours Correspondent)

Are you?

Very much so.

Former lead detective Charlie Cox says he learned a valuable lesson.

How close did he come to getting away with murder?

Very close.

Instead, Mark Winger was sentenced to life in prison, which could have been the end of this story.

Except it wasn't.

In spring 2005, an inmate at the prison in Pontiac came forward and said that Winger tried to involve him in a murder-for-hire plot.

The intended victim was Deanne Schultz.

And Winger's plot was so complicated, you might say twisted, that it took 19 handwritten pages and hours of secretly recorded conversations to spell it out.

Deanne would be kidnapped and forced to write and record lengthy statements, all scripted by Winger, saying that she lied, made everything up, and believes Winger is innocent.

Then she'd be killed.

Winger's notes covered everything.

Only Deanne's fingerprints can be on the tape cassette, letters, and envelopes.

Her saliva must be found on the stamps.

And Winger asked for one more victim, if possible.

In June 2007, Winger stood trial in a Pontiac, Illinois courthouse.

He told jurors the whole thing was a fantasy he never planned to carry out.

Ira Drescher was there.

He was chained by his hands and he was chained by his feet and I looked at him straight in the eye and I said, Mark, your miserable life is over.