LORAIN — A Lorain woman has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder after police say she tried to hire a man to kill her deceased niece’s husband.

Irene Wlaszyn, 53, was arrested last night at West Fifth Street and Reid Avenue, according to Lorain police Lt. Mark Carpentiere.

Her intended victim, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. James Eppler, was released from a Georgia jail last month after being cleared in the February death of his wife.

Eppler, who like his late wife, Natalie Eppler, is a native of Lorain County, had been charged with murder, but those charges were dropped, Dougherty County District Attorney Gregory Edwards said.

Edwards said that the investigation has determined that the single gunshot wound to the head that killed Natalie Eppler was self-inflicted.

Carpentiere said Wlaszyn approached the Lorain man two to three weeks ago.

“Luckily that guy she approached came to us, and we had her under surveillance,” Carpentiere said. “She met with this guy, and we were able to arrest her.

“We had enough evidence to determine she was serious about her intentions.”

Carpentiere declined to identify the would-be hit-man, but said “it was somebody she knew, we’re not exactly sure how.”

Police aren’t yet releasing details of how Wlaszyn wanted Eppler killed, saying “those details will come out in court.”

Wlaszyn will be arraigned today, Carpentiere said.