FARGO, N.D. (AP) _ CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED IN NORTH DAKOTA AGAINST AN OKLAHOMA MAN ACCUSED OF HIRING HIS HANDYMAN TO KILL HIS FORMER SON-IN-LAW.

GENE KIRKPATRICK OF JONES, OKLA., IS CHARGED IN CASS COUNTY WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BURGLARY. IF CONVICTED, HE FACES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.

OKLAHOMA AUTHORITIES SAY THE 63-YEAR-OLD KIRKPATRICK PAID HIS HANDYMAN $3,000 TO KILL PHILIP GATTUSO, A FARGO DENTIST WHOSE BODY WAS DISCOVERED IN HIS HOME LAST WEEK. THE HANDYMAN, MICHAEL NAKVINDA, IS CHARGED WITH MURDER, ROBBERY, BURGLARY AND THEFT.

KIRKPATRICK'S ATTORNEY, JOE BRETT REYNOLDS, COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR COMMENT.

GATTUSO WAS MARRIED TO KIRKPATRICK'S DAUGHTER, VALERIE, WHO DIED IN MARCH. AUTHORITIES SAY KIRKPATRICK WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY HIS 3-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WAS BEING RAISED BY GATTUSO.