Alleged hitmen in attempted murder-for-hire plot identified

HOUSTON Eyewitness News has obtained a probable cause court document identifying James Lowery, 27, as one of the men who allegedly arranged to have Bellaire socialite Yvonne Stern shot. Prosecutors say Lowery received a 1995 Toyota Camry as payment for allegedly arranging the hit on Stern and was told the job would pay $10,000.

According to court documents, Lowery solicited an unknown person to carry out the hit. Stern was shot in the abdomen on May 5 in the parking lot of an apartment complex on North Braeswood. She survived the attack.

Police say Michelle Gaiser, 37, was having an affair with Stern's husband, Jeffrey, who is a personal injury lawyer. Gaiser is accused of orchestrating the hit on Yvonne Stern.

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a put a hold on Gaiser who is Filipino. She remains in jail on a $500,000 bond.

Gaiser and Lowery are charged with solicitation of capital murder. Police are still attempting to locate another alleged hitman, Richard Andrew Gutierrez, 32, who is wanted on a charge of solicitation of capital murder.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Richard Gutierrez is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.