An Army servicemember and his brother are accused of plotting to kill four people, including two children, the Hartford Courant reports.
On Thursday, the Connecticut State Police arrested 30-year-old Jeremiah Peikert on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit risk of injury to minors.
Authorities allege that Jeremiah, a sergeant in the United States Army based in Texas, conspired with his brother, 32-year-old Joshua Peikert, as part of the murder-for-hire scheme.
Joshua, who is incarcerated at a Connecticut state prison in Uncasville, allegedly asked an unnamed inmate to hire a hitman to kill a 29-year-old woman, her 23-year-old boyfriend, and her two kids ages 10 and 1.
The inmate allegedly said he would find someone to commit the murders for $10,000 per person and that he wanted $500 as a finder’s fee.
Joshua agreed and split the fee into two payments; Jeremiah is accused of providing the initial $250 payment.
However, the inmate asked to find a hitman said he had no intention of doing that and only wanted the money. He wrote a letter to the targeted woman describing the plans to kill her and her family, prompting her to contact police.
The brothers are said to have discussed the scheme by pretending it was a “construction job,” according to WTNH-TV.
Jeremiah allegedly admitted to making the first $250 payment and knew the woman was an intended target, but he claimed he did not know the children were also on the hit list.
The planned hit did not occur and no one was killed. Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the alleged hit job.
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[Feature Photo: Jeremiah Peikert and Joshua Peikert/Connecticut State Police]
