WAUKESHA - Police say three men teamed up to kill an Oconomowoc mother, so one of them could get custody of her son.

All three men are now under arrest.

The arrests this week ended an emotionally tormenting roller coaster for the family of 39-year-old murder victim Kimberly Smith.

"The weight of the world was greatly off their shoulders," said Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel, who met with the family Thursday.

The circumstances surrounding Smith's death are more sinister than most could imagine. Three suspects are to be transported back to Wisconsin face charges.

Police arrested Smith's ex-boyfriend Darren Wold in Lubbock, Texas. They say he hatched the vindictive plot to murder Smith so he could have custody of their 4-year-old son.

"It does appear to be a murder for hire situation," said Lubbock Police Captain Greg Stevens.

There are two others in custody in California. Wold's lifelong friend and accused middle man Jack Johnson appeared before a San Diego judge Friday afternoon. He will not fight extradition.

A similar hearing is set Monday for 26-year-old Justin Welch. He is accused of traveling to Oconomowoc to stab Smith to death in her own home.

"They are all guilty equally of first degree intentional homicide," said Schimel.

Detectives are likely to pressure each of the suspects to give up the other two. Schimel is not ruling out a deal for the one who turns.

"That's always a possibility," Schimel said. "We've not made any decisions about that."

Based on DNA evidence, Oconomowoc Police named 26-year-old Justin Welch as primary suspect three weeks ago. Family members feared the mysterious, dangerous stranger on the run.

"They've been looking over their shoulder," said Schimel. "They have not been sure from day to day, to what extent they were safe."

Police arrested Welch in Rosarito, Mexico.