A Connecticut prisoner attempted to hire a hitman to kill a woman, her two daughters and her boyfriend, according to authorities.
Joshua Peikert, 31, told his cellmate at Corrigan prison in Uncasville about his plans, according to charging documents obtained Wednesday by local CBS affiliate WFSB.
His cellmate, identified only as Witness 1, told Peikert he knew a guy who could carry out the hit, police said. He told Peikert it would cost $10,000 per murder, plus a $500 “finder’s fee,” which Peikert allegedly said was doable.
“At no time did I contact anyone to commit violence against the victims, nor anyone else,” the cellmate told police.
Peikert’s brother, Jeremiah Peikert, sent $250 to the cellmate in two installments in July 2022 as an up-front payment, according to authorities. But the hit never occurred, as the cellmate provided various excuses to Peikert.
In October 2022, the cellmate sent a letter to the intended victim, warning her about Peikert’s plans, according to police. The 29-year-old woman reacted by calling the cops.
Investigators then spoke with the cellmate, who explained the plot. The other intended victims were identified as a 23-year-old man, a 10-year-old girl and a 1-year-old girl.
Shortly after sending the letter, the cellmate was transferred to MacDougall prison in Suffield, Conn. He told police that on his way out that another inmate told him Peikert was trying to put a hit out on him.
Though the investigation began in late 2022, police did not speak with 30-year-old Jeremiah Peikert until December 2023. The younger Peikert, who was in the U.S. Army and stationed in Texas, admitted to sending the money but claimed he didn’t know it was meant for a murder-for-hire.
Both Peikert brothers were arrested this week, with Joshua being cuffed Monday and Jeremiah arrested Tuesday in Texas, the Hartford Courant reported. He’s awaiting extradition to Connecticut.
