A disturbing murder-for-hire plot has been unearthed involving two brothers, one of whom is a U.S. Army sergeant.
Jeremiah and Joshua Peikert face charges for conspiring to hire a hitman to kill four people, including two young children.
The Daily Mail reported that 30-year-old Sergeant Jeremiah Peikert was extradited from Texas to Connecticut to face conspiracy charges. These serious charges arise from allegations that he collaborated with his older brother, Joshua Peikert, on a deadly scheme while Joshua was in prison.
A chilling plot uncovered from behind bars
32-year-old Joshua Peikert was serving time at Corrigan Correctional Center in Uncasville, Connecticut, when he allegedly began to orchestrate the murder plan. He purportedly inquired with a cellmate about hiring a hitman to eliminate a 29-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and two children aged 10 and one.
The plan progressed, with the cellmate agreeing to find a hitman for a fee of $10,000 per victim plus a $500 finder's fee. Financial transactions indicate that Jeremiah deposited $250 into the cellmate’s account and communicated with him about the ominous plot via several phone calls.
Dangerous secrets within family ties
It was revealed through an investigation that the Peikert brothers used codewords like "construction job" and "material" during discussions concerning this horrifying scheme. Joshua even provided a note detailing critical information about the victims—such as addresses, sleeping locations, and the whereabouts of a spare key—which he signed.
Sergeant Jeremiah Peikert claimed he was unaware of the children's involvement in the plot despite making payments. His brother, Joshua, faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder and committing risk of injury to a child, having pleaded not guilty; his bond is set at $700,000, with his next court appearance scheduled for May 30. Conversely, Jeremiah is held on a $500,000 bond and awaits his court date on May 23.
In court documents, the cellmate expressed the nature of the arrangement.:
The good news is that the job is going to get done because the payment, the agreement went through; the bad news is it may take a little while to happen; maybe two weeks.
In a revealing statement, Jeremiah Peikert's reflections on his brother were documented:
That fact that Josh wanted [the 29-year-old woman] hurt is not a total surprise, because Josh has displayed violent tendencies, even growing up. He is also manipulative, especially with me, which played a role in me cooperating.
Action that saved lives
The plot came undone when the cellmate, deciding against following through with the murder, alerted one of the intended victims through a letter detailing the planned crimes. This act of conscience not only spared lives but also led to the additional unraveling of this murder-for-hire scheme.
The authorities swiftly acted on this critical information, arresting Jeremiah Peikert and charging both brothers with serious criminal counts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Peikert brothers, Jeremiah and Joshua, now face the legal consequences of their alleged actions. They purportedly conspired to commit homicidal acts against four individuals, including two children, an act that was mercifully thwarted.
The legal outcomes of these actions are yet to be seen, with both brothers awaiting their respective trials. This case serves as a contemporary reminder of the potential depths of human deceit and the critical role of ethical intervention.
