Wild, Wild, West nooo. Wild, Wild, East. Murder for Hire Plot.

The plotter: A man from Beverly, Massachusetts

The target: His estranged wife, 7-year-old daughter, and mother-in-law
The hired gun: Another man who he met in jail; after both were released, the plotter asked the man or his friend to carry out the crimes.

How we caught him: The ex-prisoner was troubled by the plan, particularly the murder of the young girl. He told his mother, who called us. He also provided us with a diagram drawn for him by the Massachusetts man showing the wife’s house and location of the bedrooms.

Result: The plotter was charged in federal court on May 19.

BEVERLY MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER-FOR-HIRE


Boston, MA... A Beverly man was charged today in federal court with attempting to arrange a murder-for-hire to kill his estranged wife, his 7-year old daughter and his mother-inlaw.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent-in- Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New England Field Division, announced today that JOHN ORLOWSI, age 49, of Beverly, was charged by Complaint with attempted murderfor- hire.

“John Orlowski is charged with the unconscionable act of plotting to kill his spouse, child and mother-in-law,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan. “Thankfully the plot was uncovered by law enforcement and three innocent victims avoided a horrible tragedy. I want to commend the FBI for their quick and professional response in investigating this plot.”

According to the affidavit filed in support of the Complaint, while incarcerated at the Essex County Correctional Facility on pending state charges, ORLOWSKI approached another detainee (“CW”) to inquire if, upon release from jail, he accept $500 to plant drugs on his wife or in her home, so she could be arrested and removed from the house. The CW agreed and accepted the money. Upon release from jail, ORLOWSKI again approached the CW and told him that he wanted to have his wife, his daughter and his mother-in-law killed, and that he wanted either the CW, or one of the CW’s friends to do it. The CW was promised money after the job was complete.

According to the affidavit, the CW was troubled by the prospect of what ORLOWSKI proposed, particularly the murder of ORLOWSKI’S 7-year old daughter. Consequently, he discussed ORLOWSKI’S solicitation with his mother, who in turn, called the FBI on May 17, 2007.
On May 18, 2007, federal agents met with the CW, who provided them with a diagram that ORLOWSKI had drawn for him, depicting his wife’s house, location of bedrooms and where the targets slept.

As alleged in the affidavit, later that afternoon the CW met with ORLOWSKI, during which time ORLOWSKI was taped on government recordings, detailing the terms of how the murders should be carried out. The CW was told by ORLOWSKI that his wife and mother-inlaw should be killed with two bullets to the head, but only on bullet to the chest for his 7-year old daughter, as he wanted an open casket for her. He continued to detail how the CW should get into the house and that it should look like a drug hit. ORLOWSKI went on to tell the CW that he had a pistol in the house, which could be used in the event that there was a “shoot out” with authorities.

According to the affidavit, during the government taped audio recordings ORLOWSKI also told the CW that, if the CW would not commit the murders, ORLOWSKI could get someone in Florida to do it. The CW told ORLOWSKI that he could get two individuals to do the job, one of whom was coming up from Rhode Island.

ORLOWSKI is currently in federal custody pending an Initial Appearance in U.S. District Court on Monday, May 21, 2007. If convicted of the federal attempted murder-for-hire charge, ORLOWSKI faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New England Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Lang, Chief of Sullivan’s Major Crimes Unit.