Fort Cavazos soldier arrested for alleged role in murder-for-hire plot

Authorities arrested an Army sergeant earlier this month for allegedly trying to help his brother organize a murder-for-hire plot, according to Connecticut State Police.

Sergeant Jeremiah Peikert, a soldier stationed at Fort Cavazos, Texas, was taken into custody on May 2 and charged for his alleged role in the botched scheme two years ago to recruit a hitman to murder four people, including two minors, police documents and court documents show.

While not the only alleged murder-for-hire plot involving a military member to be foiled in recent years, this case centers on a 2022 scheme when Peikert’s older brother Joshua – already incarcerated in Connecticut – allegedly asked for his unidentified cellmate to request a hitman to carry out the plan, according to court documents.

“At no point did I intend to hire a hitman or commit any type of violence,” the unidentified inmate later told investigators, according to court documents. Instead, he said he participated in the plot against an unidentified adult woman, her children and her boyfriend.

To organize the plan, the cellmate said he told the soldier’s brother, Joshua, that he would need $10,000 per person, plus a $500 “finding fee,” with half paid upfront and the other half submitted afterward. the conclusion. of crimes.

Shortly thereafter, Peikert allegedly transferred the initial $250 in his brother’s name to the anonymous inmate, who wrote the adult female alleged victim warning of the alleged conspiracy, court documents noted. She then contacted police, who began investigating the incident, the documents added.

In December 2023, officials interviewed Peikert in Cavazos about his involvement in the alleged scheme, which the soldier had discussed with his brother and cellmate under the false pretense of it being a “construction job.”

He detailed the money transfers, the documents stated, claiming that while he was aware of the true nature of the conspiracy, he was reluctant to participate and did not know that children would be involved.

Peikert is being held on $500,000 bail, according to the most recent information released May 2 by Connecticut police. His brother was also arrested and charged with the alleged crimes.